4-10-16

Hola!

Who turned on the cold? We came home fully expecting to experience the beautiful spring weather we were hearing about...instead I am in my winter coat and scarf, thermal PJ's and actually contemplating wearing socks to bed (gross!). Ok, I am being dramatic and perhaps my tolerance for cold has been tweaked a bit by the warmth of Guatemala. I have to admit though that I am feeling seasonally disoriented since coming home. Unless I think a moment, my body and mind are convinced it is fall. You know, the feeling you get when you are convinced it is Friday, only to realize or be reminded that it is actually Thursday or, worse yet, Wednesday? This is the daily battle in my head...reminding myself of the month and the season, not just because of the weather but my seasonal clock is off or something....it is strange. I feel like I was in a time warp.

We have been back for a little over a week. We are thankful for having some time to enjoy our adult children and grandchildren and visiting our parents and siblings when their busy schedules allow. We enjoyed my grandmother's 82nd birthday celebration this weekend where we were able to visit with a lot of family members we haven't seen for quite a while! 

Each time I come back from Guatemala, I tend to purge the closets and cupboards of "unneeded" items and experience a greater desire to "live simply so that others may simply live". As many of you know, I dislike shopping of any sort because it involves spending money and wasting time trying to decide if I really "NEED" the item. I am "cheap", as some call it, when it comes to purchasing "possessions". I call it resourceful and responsible...hahahaha! In general I try to keep items to a minimum and use them for a long long time until they wear out, no longer work or do not fit (or smell real bad in the case of footwear). When it comes to being generous with spending time or money on others, many view me as a little "crazy and overly generous". I call it trusting and faithful, it's God's money & time, not mine.  This time as I begin the purge process, assessing all items as being essential or not has taken on a whole new perspective.  The purge will have to take on the process of: 

Step 1. it must go. 

If the item is absolutely necessary, move to step 2

Step 2: Is it light and will it fit in a suitcase? 

if No, proceed back to step 1.

Do you see where I am going with this? 

For a few years Brad & I have been discussing, praying and mulling over the call to spend extended periods of time ministering in Guatemala (i am avoiding the words "move to").  I have been increasing my (and Brad's) time & frequency in Guatemala to try meeting the call & vision we have had placed in our hearts by God. This travel/ministry set up has been working in the past, however over the last year it has become clear to Brad and I that God is calling us to do more than can be accomplished in a 4 or 6 week trip a few times a year. He is also calling us to be ministering more together as a couple through Recycled Lives.

This past trip, as we prepared to serve, we went with the specific plan to pray and listen for God's clear will on what to do with our future and ministry together. We began the trip together with Kelly and Dave by attending a couple's intercessional prayer retreat to assist us through prayerfully seeking God's will and in listening for His voice among the often times deafening earthly pulls on our hearts. Following this retreat we spent the next 4 weeks continuing to pray and seeking God's guidance (and I admit I also spent a bit of that time wrestling with God and Brad over what we were hearing). Brad and I came to the decision the last week of being in Guatemala that we should take a look at a few pieces of property that would perhaps fit the vision we were given for living & ministering in Guatemala. After just a few houses we walked into what we believe will be our new home (away from home). A complete sense of peace was felt and the Holy Spirit was clearly there. With every step of the process, from talking to the owner about financing us, our financial limitations, our need to wait to buy, etc....nothing was a problem! The owner even began to cry when we explained to her afterward that our purpose for the home would be for serving God and His glory. She obviously has been praying not just to simply sell this home that she clearly built with love but that it would be sold to the perfect persons that would love it just the same and that it would serve a beautiful purpose. The home will allow us the ability to live simplistically while also having the space and set up to host mission teams.  It will allow us the ability to minister in a variety of different ways outside of mission teams including housing/hosting families on vacations with a mission, prayer groups, small group bible studies and perhaps even students. We are excited for the possibilities to serve God with this home!

Brad and I will be spending the next few months preparing for this big transition by selling possessions and doing fundraising to help acquire the funds needed to complete the purchase and furnish the home for our first mission team that is scheduled to arrive less than 3 weeks after we purchase it! We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends before we leave to complete the purchase in October. We are asking that you would please continue to lift us up in prayer in all the needs that come with taking this step of faith. Further details will come in regards to the any help our family needs in making this transition. We are laying it all at God's feet and trusting Him no matter what (easier said than done of course!) Please contact us if God lays it on your heart to assist us in any certain way. As always, your words of encouragement are wonderful to hear!

Praising God for your answered prayers!  Thanks for all of your love and support. We will keep you posted!

:)  Shawn Johnson

Founder and Executive Director

info@recycledlives.org

www.recycledlives.org

3-30-16

Hola!

Thank you so much again for those of you that are encouraging us through prayer, support and loving words of affirmation. The time here has gone by so fast yet it seems like forever since i have seen my loved ones face to face back in minnesota. God has been providing brad and me with a tremendous amount of peace and confidence in the work we are doing for Him.

Here are the highlights of the past week (week 6):

*we installed a cooking stove for a family which ended up being a peace offering and a way to share the love and forgiveness of Jesus with the neighbors at the construction site for the 2nd home.

As i was working on the framing of the house it was high enough i could see over the fence. I noticed the condition of the outdoor cooking area being used by the family next door. God laid it on my heart to offer a cooking stove to the family. When we went to offer the stove and request permission to enter the property in order to nail up the siding of the house it became obvious there was a tremendous amount of anger and fighting that was going on between these neighbors. The woman was angry with us because we were helping someone she had a great amount of dislike for. This became an opportunity to minister as the stove created an avenue to show love and kindness even though she was being not so kind. It gave an opportunity to listen to her and try to restore peace while demonstrating withholding judgement and anger even when we may feel entitled to it. I was able to have a good conversation with her about my faith and motives and saw a change on her face and tone in her voice as i spoke with her about it being Holy week and the forgiveness Christ gives us even though we don't deserve it. I know the problem still exists between the two neighbors but i honestly felt a change in attitude from her. We also had a discussion with the mother we were building for as well regarding hers and her teen boy's attitude and actions leading to a lot of the problems in her community. We talked about God being a God of new chances for new lives. Please pray that there be peace and restoration in the future for these 2 families.

*Praise report! Someone donated $500 last week so we can now add the 10 families from the waiting list to the monthly food distribution! Praise and thanks be to God!

*we shared some American easter traditions with our friends and host family...with some guatemalan twists. We taught a lesson each time we used eggs explaining that eggs represent new life. We talked about the new lives offered to us through a saving relationship available through Christ's sacrifice.

We decorated hard boiled eggs then made deviled eggs out of them the next day for breakfast. We made easter egg ornaments. We filled over 300 plastic eggs with candy and rode around the city Easter morning in the back of a truck and handed (sometimes tossed ) them out. We walked central park and handed more eggs out as well as some crocheted hats donated by someone from our church. We entertained some neighbor children with egg decorating and easter bags as well. We made easter baskets and hid them and eggs on Easter morning for our host family. It was a wonderful Easter week celebrating our savior Jesus and experiencing another culture's traditions. We loved it. 

*brad and i enjoyed taking in a few days of holy week celebrations including watching several processions , viewing the alfombras (carpets) and people watching....so interesting! Buses bring people from all over guatemala as well as el Salvador and honduras to see these processions over holy week! The number of people was like the minnesota state fair x 3!

*Clinic and Activity Center*:
The clinic roof is in progress with the materials donated or purchased. $1,600 is needed to help pay the workers to complete it. If you can help with a portion if this need we would praise God for it!

*General update*:
Brad and I completed the construction of the second home in Alotenango Guatemala. It was a tricky build for a family struggling greatly with interpersonal relationships. Brad and i were able to minister to them over the course of the week and love on the children and mother. I can honestly say i witnessed a great work of God on the mothers and oldest son's hearts with demonstrating compassion, jo and love. We spoke the truth in love and honesty regarding problems we were noticing in parenting and responsibility. It was uncomfortable at times but necessary. Please hold this family in prayer.

Prayer requests:
*for all persons suffering throughout the world that lack physical resources but most importantly that do not know the saving relationship available through Jesus Christ.
*for the families we assist to not only know the comfort of shelter, water & electricity but the comfort of their Savior Jesus
*for support for the ongoing ministry work of Recycled Lives that I am blessed to lead and be involved in.
*for additional homes to be built for the long list of families that need them
*for Brad and me to continue to make decisions together in God's will for our future ministry in Guatemala as a couple.
*for traveling mercies as we return to Minnesota tomorrow

Thanks for all of your love and support.

:) Shawn Johnson
Founder and Executive Director

info@recycledlives.org

www.recycledlives.org

3-21-16

Hola!

Wow 5 weeks!

*March mission team:* Kelly & Dave departed bright & early this past Tuesday morning (3/15). Their first flight was delayed 2 hrs which was a blessing in disguise...it got them on a direct flight(vs another connecting flight in Ohio) to MN and even arrived home earlier than originally scheduled! It was encouraging to be told by Kelly when she attended Wednesday evening activities at First Baptist Church how many people told her they are praying for Recycled Lives, for me & Brad & our family. I definitely feel the prayer covering. Thank you so much!

It was a wonderful 2 weeks serving alongside Kelly, Dave & Brad. We experienced a lot & ministered well together.

Here are the highlights:
*the team played baseball for hours & served over 100 plates of the local favorite meal: rice, tortillas and beans in San Gabriel (community surrounding a garbage dump )
*The team spent an evening popping 16 batches of top secret kettlecorn (60 treat bags) and provided a movie activity with the kids and moms in San Gabriel another day. The kids enjoyed a dinosaur cartoon movie & being loved on by the team
*the team attended a weekend prayer retreat and learned more about spiritual warfare and battling in prayer. We prayed for the ministries of Recycled Lives and for the 7 spheres of influence for the communities we are actively working to fight the grips of poverty.
*we built a 12x16 foot home with an attached sheltered kitchen with cooking stove for Miriam, Jose (7), Gabriella (3 1/2) and Daniella (6 months). It was 5 hard days of labor but it was amazing, sore backs and all! Sponsoring a home like this costs around $3,000 for the materials, labor & transportation. Any amount donated can help the next family receive a home!
*the team ​performed the Recycled Lives' monthly food distribution for 130 families. There is consistently at least 10 or more families that come every month in hopes that there will be extra food. Some months we have a few extra packages, sometimes not. Would you consider sponsoring a year of food for these families so we can add them on the list? It would cost $450 ($38/mo). We want to add all 10 families at once to be fair and also need a commitment to help for at least a year. (Changing quantities of food purchased each month poses problems with our food distributor/order and also with the families as we only add families to the list when we can promise consistent help for the year. Please let us know if you can help with this need.
*following the food distribution the team enjoyed serving a hotdog BBQ with the San Gabriel community. It
was a blast!
*on sunday we swam in a sea of people while spending a day in downtown Antigua taking in the craziness of 1,000,000 people (seriously) watching a holy procession which is a parade with one very large float the size of a large boat. It is carried by 100 persons wearing purple and white tunics, one block at a time before switching to another 100 people. People make alfombras in the streets along the procession route (they are carpets of various items such as sawdust, colored sand, pine bedding, flowers, fruits or veggies.) It is very beautiful and also a very interesting tradition.

*Clinic and Activity Center*:
We are in awe & praising God that a local Guatemalan cement company donated 240 sacks of cement for the construction of the clinic. This is a huge thing for a company in Guatemala to make such a donation!!! God is blessing this project one beautiful step at a time! Please continue to lift this need up in prayer.

*General update*:
Brad and I began the construction of another home in Alotenango Guatemala on Wednesday (3/15). We expect the home to take 4 to 5 days and will take the weekend off of building to give ourselves & the workers the weekend off from the heavy labor. The home construction has been very different as it is on a very narrow strip of land for a family of 7. Please pray for us as we work in tight quarters and create the home as we go as it is on a "pie shaped" piece of land from 8 feet wide in front to 6 feet wide in back by less than 30 feet long. There will be an area in front of the house where we will create a covered kitchen/storage area and toilet. It is going to be challenging but we are confident we will be blessed as we work! Please pray for the family to see the value of hard work and be released from feelings of helplessness and dependence upon the help of others.

Prayer requests:
*for all persons suffering throughout the world that lack physical resources but most importantly that do not know the saving relationship available through Jesus Christ. That during this holy week we can shine even brighter as we serve.

*for the families we assist to not only know the comfort of shelter, water & electricity but the comfort of their Savior Jesus

*for Kelly and Dave as they adjust to returning home and process their experience.

​*for Brad and I as we construct another home and prepare to minister over holy week to the communities God calls us to

*for support for additional homes to be built for the long list of families that need them . 2 homes could be constructed each month if we had the funds.

*for our family back home, for care to be found for our Grandson Leon.​ *****PRAISE REPORT: Brad and I were baptized on a Palm Sunday 13 years ago, our daughter Jordon felt the Holy Spirit call her to be baptized while attending Palm Sunday service this past Sunday!!!! I cried with joy when receiving this exciting news! Thank you so much to those of you that thought of recording her testimony and baptism and sending it for Brad and I to enjoy seeing and hearing! (we will view the videos that have been sent as soon as decent internet is available!)
*for Brad and I to continue to make decisions together in God's will for our future ministry in Guatemala as a couple.
*for me to continue to learn and be able to speak spanish so I may minister more directly to the people I have been called to serve

Thanks for all of your love and support,

:) Shawn Johnson
Founder and Executive Director

www.recycledlives.org

http://www.recycledlives.org/

3-10-16

Hello!

Thanks to each of you that have taken the time to email message me &/or comment on Facebook posts with encouragement over the lastweek! Having the team here certainly has sped the time forward it seems and a lot has been accomplished!

Here goes for week 3:

Spanish lessons: I continued lessons until the team's arrival last wednesday...the lessons have now transitioned into application and practice. Our usual translator has been sick with bronchitis so has not been well enough to join our team and perform translation. This has forced me to apply & use what i have learned and has provided me with the confidence boost i needed that i can maybe figure this out. Many of the people i encounter have been patient with my slow and limited vocabulary. The good news is I can usually figure it out enough to understand what is being said & give a somewhat toddler like response....

Clinic and Activity Center Construction :  Diego continues to oversee the daily progress of the center. Step by step this dream continues to come true to have a center where we can provide space for health care & mission teams to serve out of.

March mission team: Kelly and Dave arrived last week and our team of 4 is complete for this mission. We have enjoyed spending a day serving hot meals to about 100 people & playing baseball for a few hours with about 40 kids in the San Gabriel (the community surrounding the garbage dump).

Friday we were able to visit & taught a family how to make Recycled Lives' top secret kettle corn through gifting them with the tools and supplies needed to add this product to their small home business of selling sweet breads & other foods. It was a blessed visit.  This family has been in our care program since 2011 when one of my mission teams built them a home. We have assisted this family through high school for their 2 boys, helped them when the father died of diabetes (some of you may remember the story of Lorenzo from the hungry feast event). They struggle hard each day & the mother i a  suffering from much grief and anxiety. Please pray with us for her & the teen boys.

Over the weekend we enjoyed receiving training in intercessional prayer through a couples prayer retreat hosted by a YWAM (youth with a mission) missionaries. The entire weekend was centered around prayer, worship and fellowship. It was a wonderful experience...well, except for the 4hr long switchback mountainous drive & throwing up as a result of playing the game "beanboozled". A jelly bean game we thought would be a blast to entertain our missionary host's 5yr old son. It involves spinning a dial and eating (or trying to eat) the selected color jelly bean. The bean has the potential to be a good or disgusting flavor....my selection was chocolate pudding OR canned dog food....yep, my lovely teammates were kind enough to record my instant gag and wretch response to the potent alpo flavor jelly bean i shall never forget. As soon as someone gets decent internet connection i shall be haunted by the video memory i am sure...

We shared many good laughs, shed tears, learned, experienced amazing prayer & rooftop worship times and enjoyed some much needed fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters who were equally desiring connectedness to Christian fellowship.

General update: we started home construction on Monday for a single mom with 3 young children. Please pray for them as well as any observers and helpers to experience Christ's tremendous love through witnessing the work we are doing.

Prayer requests:

*for all persons suffering throughout the world that lack physical resources but most importantly that do not know the saving relationship available through Jesus Christ.

*for the families we assist to not only know the comfort of shelter, water & electricity but the comfort of their Savior Jesus

*for my entire family as I am away, I miss them dearly. leon (our oldest grandson) is in need of a care provider as he can no longer attend yet another daycare because of his special needs /behavior. Brad and i watch him quit a bit cor this reason so when we are away it is hard when this situation arrises. Please pray for the right help for him and for the anxiety and frustration that stirs in him over things he experiences in daily life.

*for me to continue to learn and be able to speak spanish so I may minister more directly to the people I have been called to serve

Thanks for all of your love and support.

Blessings,
Shawn
Recycled Lives Founder & Executive Director
www.recycledlives.org
info@recycledlives.org

3-2-16

Hello!

Thank you all for your email messages and encouragement last week! It was a tough week but I am tougher for it! I am also feeling abundantly blessed through it as I got to witness several answered prayers!

It is my goal to provide a weekly update during the time I am here in Guatemala and the work of Recycled Lives. Here goes for week 2:

Spanish lessons: I am continuing to study and learn spanish daily. This week my light bulb moment was understanding the name "Chupacabra"... yes I know this does not seem all too exciting for most but after a frustrating day of feeling completely lost in past imperfect conjugated irregular verb formations my head was exploding like the volcano fuego. I decided to take a break from the verbs and review animal names. Chupar (to suck) was a verb I learned and Cabra (goat) now that strange name for the "fictional" creature makes sense..... 

Clinic and Activity Center construction: Praise be to God as we continue to see slow but steady progress on the clinic. This past week we are praising God for His goodness in that we received word the cement for the floors and skimming the walls was donated by a local Guatemalan cement company! We also received a generous donation that will support the materials for the construction of the roof!!!! Thanks be to God! Step by step this dream continues to come true to have a center where we can provide space for health care teams, a physician on a semi regular basis and the food distribution and mission team activities! The estimated material costs remaining to complete construction is approximately $10,000 ($1,000 for the electrical, $2,500 for windows (16 windows x approx $150 ea), $2-5,000 for other items (doors, septic, plumbing materials, paint, fixtures,etc.). We are still in need of funding for the workers to construct the floors and roof with the current donated materials (only $200/wk supports a salary for local men to supervise volunteers and perform the majority of the labor.)

March mission team: Brad arrived on Sunday and we have been enjoying preparing for the arrival of Kelly and Dave this afternoon. The team will "hit the ground running" starting tomorrow with serving a meal and offering some games and activities in San Gabriel (the community surrounding the garbage dump). Friday we will be installing a wood burning cooking stove for a family and teaching her how to make Recycled Lives' top secret kettle corn through gifting her with the tools and supplies needed to add this product to her small home business of selling sweet breads. This family has been on our care program since 2011 when one of my mission teams built them a home. We have assisted this family through high school for their 2 boys, helped them when the father died of diabetes (some of you may remember the story of Lorenzo from the hungry feast event). Over the weekend we will receive training in intercessional prayer through a couples prayer retreat hosted by a YWAM (youth with a mission) missionary couple I met nearly 2 years ago (Her name is SHAWN and her spouses name is Dave) LOL! Funny how God works.  

General update: Following my request for prayer last week for the return of water, it finally returned that very evening I sent out the request! Thank you for praying and thank you God for blessing that request!  

Brad and I were able to do a social visit yesterday to the Salazar family. They recently lost their mother Isabel about 2 1/2weeks ago. Please pray for them as they are grieving quite hard as Isabel was the glue to the family. It was quite the blessing however to hear the 14 year old provide comforting words of hope to his sister that they need to unite together in prayer and going to church and to rejoice in knowing their mother is no longer suffering as she had been suffering greatly from severe diabetes.  Please lift this family in prayer as they process their grief and adjust to life without Isabel.  

I was excited to be able to start our first ladies prayer and yarn club in Guatemala. I love to knit and have been wanting to lead a group of woman in a yarn club back home for some time now. Last November I met a woman here in Guatemala that had the same desire. When we connected she nearly cried when I shared my wish to do this back home with women. She has been desiring to start a crocheting and knitting prayer group for women here in Guatemala but didn't have the resources to do so. I put together 10 kits for her to start her group and also donated a suitcase of yarn and was blessed to see her lead her first group of woman last Saturday! (photo attached) I learned I am going to stick with knitting...crochet was quit hard for these knitting hands! These ladies had a wonderful time. It was a great blessing to see a group of women learn not only a hobby that is relaxing but one that could potentially provide a small income.

This past week I have been surrounded by people sick with very bad colds (am pretty sure it is influenza for the severity of illness). I have been fortunate enough to only be mildly sick with a few days of a minor cough, headache and body aches but I am feeling much better this morning as I write. I have been using an essential oil blend since my arrival on a daily basis to boost my immunity. Please pray for my home stay hosts and spanish teacher, they have been sick with this horrible cold for close to a week. 

The volcano Fuego (fire volcano) has been very active. Attached are a few photos from what it looks like during the day and at night. It surely is one of God's most amazing creations!

Prayer requests:

• for all persons suffering throughout the world that lack physical resources but most importantly that do not know the saving relationship available through Jesus Christ. For each of us to know and "go" (work) in our personally God-given ministries to reach all persons lost and suffering.
• for the families we assist to not only know the comfort of shelter, water & electricity but the comfort of their Savior Jesus
• for the salazar family and women in our yarn group
• for the mission team's first day of ministering in San Gabriel and our prayer retreat and its leaders
• for my entire family as I am away, I miss them dearly. 
• for me to continue to learn and be able to speak spanish so I may minister more directly to the people I have been called to serve

Thanks for all of your love and support.

Blessings,

:)  Shawn Johnson

Founder and Executive Director

info@recycledlives.org

2-24-16

Hello!

It is my goal to provide a weekly update during the time I am here in Guatemala and the work of Recycled Lives. Here goes for my first week.

Spanish lessons: I am very slowly learning Spanish, it is so very hard, especially learning the grammar & pronunciation piece so I can string together the billions of words I think I know but can't use properly.

Clinic and Activity Center construction: The walls are all constructed!!! The roof, floors, electrical, plumbing and interior finishes remain. The estimated material costs remaining to complete construction is approximately $10-15,000 (estimates are currently at: $5,000 for the roof, $1,000 for the electrical, $2,500 for windows (16 windows x approx $150 ea), $2-5,000 for other items (doors, septic, plumbing materials, paint, fixtures,etc.). This amount is with the hopes that a local cement company will be donating the bags of cement needed for making the floor and sidewalk. This amount also does not count the $200+/wk salary for the 2 workers (that guide volunteers and do most of the labor). We currently have enough funds/supplies for one more week of work. If funds continue to come in for the needed materials & labor, the clinic should be done in May, longer if needing to wait for funds. Please pray for God to continue to bless this building project/ministry into its completion. It has employed 2 local men since November, has brought much unity in volunteerism in the community and will be a huge blessing to the community for healthcare and ministry programs. 

March mission team: Social visits were performed and it has been determined that the team that arrives next week (my husband Brad and friends Dave & Kelly Wichman) will build a home for Miriam (30), Jose (7), Gabriella (3) and Daniella (5 months). The children's father committed suicide and life has been very tough for this family. Little Jose witnessed the death of his father.

After Kelly & Dave leave, Brad and I will be building a home for another family (Claudia & 5 children). They live on a very narrow and long piece of land. We are really in need of additional funds for this building project as the initial estimate for the cost of the house was half of what it will actually be due to the difficult nature of the build and shape of the land. (it is only 6 feet wide in the back and 8 feet wide in the front by 30 feet long. This family lives under pieced together sheets of rusting tin, rotting boards and suffers tremendously when it rains. They basically have little to no shelter.

General update: This week has been one of my most challenging weeks in Guatemala. It has offered me many areas for personal growth and opportunities for dependence on God and thankfulness for the blessings I experience in my daily life at home. For the past 5 days, the city in which I am staying has been without water. We were fortunate enough to have a trickle of water from the water lines, enough to wash hands and fill the toilet tank over the course of the hour.... however today, the trickle of water is gone and there is no water at all making things even more difficult. We also experienced several hours of no electricity last night. The water likely will not return until at least this weekend when a city water pump is replaced.

Aside from "suffering" without the customary comforts I am used to, I am really trying to embrace the situations and learn from them. I cannot imagine life never having the hope of running/clean water, shelter, electricity...the reality so many of the people we are trying to help feel each and every day, it is humbling and also heartbreaking.

Prayer requests:

• for all persons suffering throughout the world that lack physical resources but most importantly that do not know the saving relationship available through Jesus Christ. For each of us to know and "go" (work) in our personally God-given ministries to reach all persons lost and suffering.
• for the families we assist to not only know the comfort of shelter, water & electricity but the comfort of their Savior Jesus
• For the aid to be available to finish the clinic, build many more homes, continue to feed our supported families monthly and provide Christ-centered help
• for team members Brad, Kelly & Dave as they prepare to depart for Guatemala
• for my entire family as I am away, I miss them dearly. 
• for my brain to absorb and my tongue to speak Spanish fluently to minister more directly to the people I have been called to serve

Thanks for all of your love and support.

Shawn 

info@recycledlives.org

Recycled Lives Christmas Ministry Guatemala 2013

July 2014 Guatemala Mission Team

Two years ago while in my 6^th year of serving in Guatemala I witnessed something that still haunts me just as much today as the first day I saw it. Women, some with their infants strapped to their back, and their young, barefoot children are digging through trash at a garbage dump. They are searching for their next meal in the very trash they sift through for plastic to recycle.   I see many living under trash-constructed shacks on top of the garbage dump they call work and home.  The words “I need to do something” keep repeating in my head and heart as I stand sobbing and feeling helpless over what I am witnessing.  These conditions do not make sense in a world that has plenty.

Recycled Lives was formed because we recognize there is a desperate and urgent need for us to do something to stop the suffering for those trapped in impoverished conditions. We know that there are people like you that want to do something about it as well.  With a little help from a lot of people we can change the lives and conditions for impoverished people all over the world.  We are asking you to consider with us the situations of the children and families that are living in these unimaginable conditions and do something to help us help them.

For the past two years we have been doing something about this heart-wrenching problem. By sending volunteers, providing supplies, constructing homes & cooking stoves, installing water lines, serving hot meals, providing educational support and monthly supplemental food distributions to this community, we are making a permanent change. All of this is being done through just a few faithful donors & volunteers!  With each donation, large or small, we can make a powerful change to the ugly face of poverty. Would you be willing make a contribution toward our work and encourage others to do so as well?

We have a team of 8 traveling in July to work directly with the men, women and children living and working at this garbage dump in Guatemala. We are raising funds to support daily biblical teachings, hot meals, monthly food packages, medical aid, shelter improvements and homes! 

This community is learning they are loved from afar through the monthly support through our food distribution as well as through semi-yearly mission teams. We ask that you consider helping our organization and July Mission team to give them something that can only be received through a team’s work…smiles, hugs, tears and the light and love of Christ in person. Together we can enrich the lives of families living in unimaginable conditions at this garbage dump in Guatemala.  We would be honored to have you come alongside of us to help!

Blessings,

Shawn Johnson, Recycled Lives Executive Director & Mission Team Coordinator

Contributions can be received online or by check to the address below.  If you would like to view videos showing the work we do and the conditions in Guatemala you can do so by searching YouTube or Vimeo for “Recycled Lives Escuintla Project”.  We are a non-profit organization that has applied for 501c(3) tax exempt status. Until that determination is made by the IRS, your donation will not be tax exempt at this time. If tax exempt status is granted this year, a year-end statement will be sent to you by January 31, 2015.

Recycled Lives ~ PO Box 408 ~ Cambridge, MN 55008  ~   www.RecycledLives.org 

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Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours.

"Heal my heart and make it clean.

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours.

Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause."  Lyrics from Hosanna by Hillsong

These are the verses that have become a regular prayer for me.  In 2011 I was leading my 4th team on a mission trip to Guatemala.  While gathering together on a roof top terrace for our worship and devotional time we sang the song Hosanna. Its words cut deep into my heart. Since my first trip to Guatemala in 2008 my heart had been broken and it was moving me to want to do something to make a change but this was something different. I was starting to see the suffering of the Guatemalan people not through my own scale-covered eyes but I would say a little bit more through the eyes of Christ.  I was praying for God's will in my life in regards to continuing work in Guatemala and what it was to look like. God made it clear to me that moment with the lyrics of that song that the things that were breaking my heart didn't even touch the tip of the iceberg of how much more it broke God's heart.  He showed me on that trip how differently things were in serving as His hands and feet with Him being the center of all of it. He blesses the works and time even more richly when we are focusing on carrying out His will, His purpose and His plan.  How humbling it is to have the privilege to aid in furthering His kingdom even with our imperfect and lacking abilities. What matters to Him is that when we are moving in tune with His song, He allows us to be a part of His ongoing miracle of loving on others as an extension of His beloved son Christ Jesus' hands and feet.

This morning at church I was again reminded of this time of confirmation of continuing on with mission work in Guatemala.  There was a missionary sharing about his serving in Japan for 42 years and Ukraine, Siberia for another 15 years. His message made it so clear how as the body of Christ we are all in some way a part of Global mission work. That just because we may not step foot on foreign soil while proclaiming the saving love of Christ, that God uses us to further His kingdom throughout the world nonetheless. He talked about how a mailman played a starting role of another missionary that brought hundreds of thousands to Christ through the planting of a church.  We are all able to play the role that mailman played....by simply witnessing to a lost soul surrounding us and years later they may become a missionary or perhaps that day they become saved and raise their children to know the love of Christ for generations to come.  The closing song to today's sermon: Hosanna by Hillsong. Thank you Father God for again reminding and confirming the work I feel at times is busting my heart to pieces while you continually mend it back together with every act of love done in your name in Guatemala.

I thank God for being gentle with me. For providing me with His never-ending grace and loving guidance as I fumble my way through how best to lead teams in Guatemala to grow His kingdom and love on His people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huwB3Ja_oJ4

Going to Get Sweet On Guatemala...AGAIN!!!!!

2^nd Annual Sweet on Guatemala Event

A sweet evening supporting a sweeter cause!

Friday, November 1, 2013

6:00 – 8:30 PM

Elim Baptist Church, 114 Dahlin Ave, Isanti MN

Please join us to learn about the non-profit organization 

Recycled Lives

Hear testimonies from past mission team members and find out about ministry projects & opportunities in the coming year!

Desserts & beverages, silent auction, craft & Guatemalan coffee sales

*Program Starts at 6:30 PM

*SILENT AUCTION bidding starts at 6 PM & closes at 8:15 PM

Hosted by the Recycled Lives Board of Directors

Questions: guatemalashawn@gmail.com or 612.709.0914

Sweet Details Here!

Recycled Lives Cinco de Mayo 5k & Family Fun Fest

Please join us in our 3rd annual event that puts the fun in fundraising!!! We are raising funds to support our mission work we will be performing at a Garbage dump in Escuintla Guatemala in May.  Please come to eat, run, play, watch, support, pray, laugh and spend time with family and friends!  I may even run the race if we get 100 registrations..... Yes I have not been capable of running more than 2 blocks in one stint so register so you can see me pop a lung!
Here is the link to register and check out the details for the event: Recycled Lives Cinco de Mayo 5k and Family Fun Fest event registration

Please watch this video and consider supporting this ministry. These children and families are in desperate need. Even $5 can make a difference between eating rotting garbage each day or eating nourishing meals for a week for someone. Click here for the video: Recycled Lives Escuintla Project 
A youth group I work with raised enough money ($4,500) to build a home for a family from the dump. Yes, a group of less than 10 high schoolers and their 3 leaders raised this money in only a few months! Here is a video showing God's work: 1st Home Escuintla Project
God is at work here and is calling us to be His hands and feet to make a difference in the lives of the poor. If we wish to see poverty and starvation cease, we each need to stop thinking that we are broke and what little we have won't make a difference... even a dollar feeds a child for more than a day. We can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Him,
Shawn :)

Party with a Purpose!!!

You're invited! Please click on the invitation to see more details about our Sweet On Guatemala Event! Feel free to share and bring friends and family! Please come to see what God has captured our hearts with! Blessings! Brad & Shawn

Sweet on Guatemala Event

Friday, November 2, 2012 6 - 10 PM

Open your invitation

Don't want invitations from this host? Remove yourself. If you are unable to see the above invitation, click the link below or paste into your browser. http://www.punchbowl.com/partypage/b9f869dce63cde2c We will never sell your email address. Read the privacy policy at: http://www.punchbowl.com/privacy-policy © 2012 Punchbowl, Inc. Punchbowl, Inc. 50 Speen Street, Suite 202, Framingham, MA 01701

Party with a Purpose!!!

You're invited! Please click on the invitation to see more details and to RSVP. Feel free to share or show up! Hope to see you there! Blessings! Brad & Shawn

Sweet on Guatemala Event

Friday, November 2, 2012 6 - 10 PM

Open your invitation

Don't want invitations from this host? Remove yourself. If you are unable to see the above invitation, click the link below or paste into your browser. http://www.punchbowl.com/partypage/b9f869dce63cde2c We will never sell your email address. Read the privacy policy at: http://www.punchbowl.com/privacy-policy © 2012 Punchbowl, Inc. Punchbowl, Inc. 50 Speen Street, Suite 202, Framingham, MA 01701

The confidence a child brings

I usually look at photos of myself and am critical of everything i see.... tripple chins, strange smile or expression, dark circles under my eyes, blemishes...you name it and have probably done it to your own photo. Something really amazing happens when i look at this photo taken with my son Josh. I feel beautiful. I look at this photo and it isn't about what i look like but is about a precious memory and a deep joy and happiness that exudes in our smiles. Love this photo and loved the reminder that life is just too short to get hung up on all the beauty expectations and worries of what we think others think when they look at us. Who cares! If they truly know us, the external beauty matters none!

Tres

In a few short weeks my team will be departing for the what i call the "middle 1/3" of our trip. Realistically the trip does not occur in equally divided portions ("1/3's") but I refer to the three "phases" as "The Beginning 1/3", "The Middle 1/3" & "The Final 1/3". Even though these 3 phases of a mission trip are not equal in experience, time or emotional value, the 3 intertwine and are each a part of the full experience.

The Beginning 1/3: A mission trip requires much preparation... Preparation emotionally, physically, spiritually & financially. The preparation phase for me feels like it takes the longest of the 3 parts, can at times seem like the least fun, as it can feel very time & energy consuming.  When preparing for the trip we need to learn to be patient, open our eyes & heart, work hard yet find rest and refreshment in time with God.  We learn to deal with adversity & deadlines while relying upon the Lord.  We need to focus on seeing the daily blessings that surround us that we often fail to experience and our time preparing should be drawing us nearer to God. Through all of these preparations we sometimes lose our focus on the purpose of the trip when faced with so much to do and so many details to pay attention to. When we begin tripping over ourselves and our own agenda, God gently humbles us & reminds us to trust in Him & let Him take the lead.

The middle 1/3: This is the portion of the experience that takes place while we are in Guatemala serving as we also develop ourselves and our relationship with God. This is a mere 2 weeks of time compared to the months of preparation & the years following the trip but yet it is the most intense in so many ways (emotionally, physically, mentally & spiritually). This is the part that is tangible, real, leaving nothing to the imagination. It is the full throttle experience using all our God given senses.... seeing, hearing, feeling & tasting what seems a billion experiences. Experiences that can be readily recalled upon our return home through seeing a photo.  Experiences that are repressed in efforts to protect our tattered heart  & weary soul and brought fully to life and out of repression with a simple sound or smell.

The Final 1/3: Upon our return home, we fulfill our longing to sleep in our own bed, we snuggle and hug our dear ones close. We tell them of our experience and talk incessantly about details that probably bore them to pieces trying to get them to experience as closely as we can to what we did. We savor our favorite foods and drink a ton of water directly out of the faucet. We may even look forward to actually throwing toilet paper in the toilet. We are drawn back into our busy lives & obligations doing whatever it is that desires/requires our attention. At this point it seems to be the natural "completion" of a trip away from our comfort zone. The return home and return to "normalcy" shouldn't be the completion of the journey. Gods wants us to do so much more with the experience.

After my first trip to Guatemala my heart and spirit where not prepared for the imploding guilt and overwhelming whirling of heart wrenching stories and images that spun in my heart & mind constantly. My emotions were raw & I found myself breaking down every time I stopped to try to process what I had experienced or if someone asked me about the trip. I just couldn't wrap my head around the experience and get my emotions to settle down enough to really feel like I had accomplished much. I realized this was because I was relying on my own weakening strength and was not looking to God to bring me a sense of peace and thankfulness for what I had experienced. I realized I was letting the transformation that had begun with the preparations for the trip to stop when I returned. I didn't consider that the experience wasn't over and that God was trying to move me in a direction I had not even imagined. He was working in my heart & soul through the unsettled feelings I was having to encourage me to use my spiritual gifts & the trip's experiences to serve Him more. God wants us to find ministry opportunities and places people into our paths every day that are in need of prayer, are in need of financial help, that are in need of support & encouragement. He gives us the courage to be bold for Him at times we normally would remain silent. He gives us multiple opportunities to speak of our faith and share our testimony from the trip. God can use our experiences to open wider our eyes & heart to seeing people's needs with Jesus' eyes. He wants us to do so while giving Him the glory. This last portion of the trip lasts a lifetime and doesn't end until we choose to bring the journey to a close.

God is good all the time!

Fun Guatemala fundraising events!

Hello!

Hope this find each of you enjoying the amazingly beautiful weather!

I am writing to let you know about a few upcoming events I have scheduled to raise funds for my May 2012 Guatemala service team.  If you can participate in one or all of them, I would be very grateful!

Paparazzi Jewelry & Accessories Basket Parties

I have become an independant consultant for this amazing line of jewelry & hair accessories. Beautify yourself or give a sweet gift without the guilt! Every item is only $6 (tax included), cash, credit card or a check and carry! Call me to arrange for an open house (612.709.0914) or I can put together a basket of items for you to sell at your office to earn a discount on your own purchase!

March 31^st craft sale: (need shoppers and crafters for the event!)

April 1^st & April 7^th , 2012 from 10am to 6pm my team will be bagging groceries at Cub Foods  in Coon Rapids (Northdale location on the 1^st & Riverdale location on the 7^th)

I need a few more volunteers to help us bag groceries as well as people to come and shop and make a small donation to our cause.  If you can volunteer a few hours, please email me with your availability.

New Face of Guatemala Cinco de Mayo 5k & Family Fun Fest
May 5th, 2012 from 10am to 12:30pm
You don't want to miss this amazing event!!! It's not just a run, there will be something for everyone! Kids 1k, silent auction, raffles, walking nachos, non-alcoholic Margueritas! Here is the link for details and to register:
http://www.active.com/running/cambridge-mn/new-face-of-guatemala-cinco-de-mayo-5k-and-family-fun-fest-2012

Online donations
If you are unable to attend one of the events listed above and still wish to support my work please consider donating online, any amount (even a few dollars) makes a huge difference in helping the poorest of the poor in this world. (Did you know that $5 can buy groceries for a week for a family in Guatemala?) Your money will go directly to helping me help families!  Here is the link to donate: http://www.active.com/donate/shawnjohnson

Please feel free to share this information with friends & family! I have fliers & jpg's to post on your facebook, etc if you will, just email me @ guatemalashawn@gmail.com so I can send them to you! I appreciate the help getting the word out!  I hope to see you at one of these events!  Thanks so much!

:)  Shawn Johnson

Service Team Leader