Once upon a time God put a lovely lady on this planet (specifically in the USA), gave her a brilliant husband and them both a burning passion for bringing His Kingdom to earth. Her name was Charlotte. Charlotte and her husband were called to Central and South America as missionaries travelling in any transport available and sleeping mainly in tents to ensure they reached the people in the most rural areas with the Gospel. When Charlotte was blessed with two boys and a girl the couple managed to raise their children on the mission field, understanding the importance of completing their purpose and mission. However, sadly Charlotte’s husband was taken from her at a young age to return home to his Father in Heaven. Charlotte was left alone with her children, but never had she heard the voice of God more clearly. And the country he was calling her was back to beautiful Guatemala, where she and her husband had already set up a successful feeding programme for poor kids.
Charlotte returned to the country she had once travelled with her husband, her heart full of passion for the many children who were lacking in material things, love or care due to poverty or the devastation of the continuous guerrilla war in the country. Eventually God showed Charlotte an area of isolated land in the countryside outside Guatemala that He wanted her to buy and use to help some of the thousands of children that were war orphans. So, she did what she was told. She bought the lifeless, waterless piece of empty land and began to do what she did best; pray. To the disbelief and shock of the builders Charlotte employed God provided her with fresh running water, a church building, land for the children to play in, several gorgeous buildings fit to home orphan boys, girls, widows and volunteers. Over the years Charlotte officially adopted 78 children in total. They were raised as a family rather than an institution, with help from her own biological children and volunteers, local and international.
During their time there they witnessed countless miracles and lived day to day relying on God’s provision. But as the Bible tells us, provide He did. Every one of the 78 children wanted for nothing materially, emotionally or spiritually. They attended the best school in the area, had nice clothes and things and were always well fed, guided and most importantly loved.
Sadly, as with the rest of the world, there is much greed and violence in Guatemala. One terrifying night the boy’s house was surrounded by a gang of armed men wanting to rob the place, regardless of who they might have to hurt or kill in order to do this. As they began to run at the weak wooden doors to the building with a large tree trunk the petrified carers and children in the building did what they did for everything they needed, and got down on there knees and began to pray. But not just weak words, these were people that relied in faith and they prayed with complete belief in the power of their God. Despite the lack of strength in the doors, the men were unable to break through them. Seeing one of the children looking out of one of the windows on the top floor, one of the gang members shot at the young boy. The bullet of course flew easily through the wooden walls of the house, but as it shot towards the boy’s knee it suddenly stopped in it’s tracks, and without leaving a mark on the child, the bullet fell to the ground! Excited, the little boy picked up the bullet to tell his friends and family that hadn’t already seen what had happened, about how his God had saved him.
Meanwhile, downstairs one of the other gang members had managed to break through one of the windows and was currently crawling into the empty downstairs room. However, as he entered the (what was thought by all at the home to be an) empty room, he suddenly saw before him something that God only knows about. Whatever it was, it terrified him to his core and sent him and the rest of his gang screaming in fear, guns in hand, away from the building.
A few years later there was another hold up in the home as a local gang managed to break into the building were Pastor Debbie (Charlotte’s daughter), Pastor Alvaro (Debbie’s husband) and their children lived. When the gang approached the door Pastor Alvaro steeped out of his house to meet them in an attempt to keep them from his family inside. However this angered the trigger-happy gang leader and without much thought he held the gun inches from the Pastor’s head and shot him. Alvaro fell to the floor, his face covered in blood, leaving Debbie shocked, terrified and more than anything, angry. However, she was more shocked when a few minutes later he stood up again completely unharmed! The shooter literally turned round to him and said “I just killed you”, totally confused in the presence of God. The gang made it away with lots of the valuables, but the van they stole was returned a few days later and the gang were caught and sent to jail (just as Charlotte prophesised at the time of the robbery). After the gang had left, Debbie and Alvaro studied the wall behind where he had been when he was shot. Not only had the bullet clearly hit the wall, despite apparently missing his head, the route it had taken from the gun went directly through the exact space he had been kneeling. The only scar Alvaro was left with from the attack was the marks of pieces shrapnel that made the shape of a cross around his eye, leaving his eye completely unharmed.
There are many more stories of miracles and provision that Charlotte and her friends and family could tell you, but I can’t possibly write down even the few that we have been told so far. Thankfully, she is being encouraged to write a book to share her amazing life with everyone. So we will let you know when we hear more news about this.
When the 78 children Charlotte adopted grew up, she knew it was time to shut the home, as she was never called to run an orphanage, but just to raise the children she was given. The land is now used as another church and also for a children’s church on a Saturday for the many local children that needed a place to learn about God. It is also used for retreats for different missions teams as the area in which it is situated is very beautiful and relaxing.
For a short while Charlotte was sent to the Ukraine and Russia church planting, but it wasn’t long before God put Guatemala back on her kind heart. However, this time the need she was called to was the many thousands of people that live on the streets in Guatemala. So, faithful as ever, Charlotte returned to Guatemala and with the help of her daughter and husband (Pastor Alvaro and Debbie, that we are living with) and others within the ministry (including Jan that we spend most of our time with), she began to visit these people where they lived on the streets. They arrived in cars full of hot soup, coffee, sandwiches and the love of the Gospel. Over time they befriended many, provided for more and brought so many to know the loving life that was meant for them.
After some time Charlotte realised that they could reach more people if they had a place they could gather. God provided a huge building with a large courtyard, rent free in the perfect area for the homeless people to reach, volunteers, food and a brilliant leader (Jan). And in 2001 the Lord’s Kitchen was born; the first “soup kitchen” in Guatemala. However, Gyseppi, a man trained in homeless ministry by Charlotte, still continues to go out on the streets 3 nights a week the same way they did all those years before, bringing warm food, and an even warmer heart.
Working here with these people is a real reminder that God doesn’t just exist; He doesn’t just love you; He is powerful and waiting to look after you. You just need to be willing to let Him.
Jenn xx
(sorry about the lack of photos again, the connction really isn't great for uploading, will try get some up soon!)
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