Day 1

We arrived safely in Guatemala this afternoon.  We attended a local church in the same area where we will be working all week.  The pastor invited our entire team to the front of the church, and we got to introduce ourselves by saying our name and age.  After arriving at the Breaking Cycles compound, our home base for the week, we received training on expectations, rules and ended our day meeting in our work teams.

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Today was the first day of work in Guatemala for our High School team! Even though it was only the first day, it was incredibly impactful for the families we met, and even more so-- for us. Our group split up into four separate teams that will spend the week building a room for a family sponsored by Breaking Cycles OR leading VBS camp at the local church, Aposento Alto. Each team had unique experiences and interactions, and we’re excited to share some of those highlights with you! 

Our VBS team, led by Frankie, Jaylyn, and Jeremy spent the day making house-visits to members of the church. The team sat with four different families in their homes and learned about their stories and the trials they faced. The team offered encouragement, groceries, and prayer over the hardships shared, and many tears were shed in empathy and joy. Each Guatemalan family displayed incredible perseverance and faith in their walks with God and greatly encouraged and inspired the entire team. 

Our second group led by Jackson, Matt, and Jeremy started construction on a home for the family of Victor and Elena. The team had many laughs with the masons they worked with, as well as building relationships with Victor and Elena’s children. The team learned the value of slowing down, even on a job site, and taking the time to see how God is working. It was difficult, considering the fast-paced culture of America, but by living each moment as it comes and focusing on relationships over productivity, the team truly connected with the family they were serving as well as with God. 

Our third group was led by Annika, Alejo, and Abdiel who started construction on a room for Carlos and Mayra. As they worked, this team learned what true contentment looks like. As they served, the team realized how much gratitude the family had, even if they had so little. They had a joy that was not defined by their circumstances, but by God’s love for them. True contentment is not about having everything but thanking God for what He has given you. 

And finally, our fourth group was led by Cole and Amy who started building for Jhony and Sandra’s family. The team had a wonderful first day of connection with each other and with the family they served, and even more so, an opportunity to find humility in the presence of these families. They realized that as much as they have a desire to serve and help, it is really the Guatemalans who help and teach them. Their indescribable joy, welcoming spirit, and heart for God helped the team to reflect on their own lives and the ways in which they can serve and love God and others in that same way. 

Our first day of serving in Guatemala was incredibly impactful, maybe for the families, but definitely for the high schoolers and leaders who went along. By stepping out of the distractions, business, and stress of everyday life, each team experienced God's presence, love, and heart for them and the people of Guatemala. ​

Check back here for updates from our Family Guatemala Mission Trips taking place July 12th-19th.

Sent to Love means...

• Sending 300 backpacks of food home with students every week of the school year.

• Adopting or fostering 50 children over 5 years. 

• Providing free childcare and student ministries on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights including small groups so children and students grow up with 5-10 adults investing in their lives.

• Partnering in Bangkok to stop sex trafficking and give hope by teaching conversational and written English using the Bible as a source.

• Partnering with New Life Church Stockholm as they start churches across Sweden.

• Partnering with the Timothy Initiative, an international disciple making and church planting organization.

• Partnering with Converge Worldwide in church planting around the world.

• Partnering with World Vision to bring clean water to much needed areas of our world.

What will be your "sent to love" story?

As part of the Aspen Grove Network we start and support sites through out the Twin Cities. All the sites and missional communities are interdependent working to expand the opportunity for people to know the love of God found in the Lord Jesus. Currently Aspen Grove sites are:

• Woodridge Church – Medina

• The Highlands Church – Delano

• Mercy Hill Church – Minnetonka

• Foundry Church – Plymouth

EVERY MEAL (Formerly Sheridan Story)
More than 300,000 children in Minnesota live with food insecurity.  We’re on a mission to change that. Every Meal fights child hunger by focusing on filling the food gaps children face on weekends, extended breaks, and summer when they’re not able to access school meal programs. When they don’t have consistent access to enough food, the risk of hunger is very real. Through our multiple food gap programs, we provide children and families experiencing food insecurity with access to good food. You can sponsor a child for $150 per year.

OTHER INITIATIVES IN OUR CITY:

• We join with Converge North Central in church planting efforts across the Twin Cities and through out Minnesota.

• We regularly participate in food drives in our local area through IOCP.

• We support Young Life in Orono and Wayzata schools.

FAMILY SERVING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR CITY

Many of our attenders have asked for ways that they could serve our community as a family. As a church Sent to Love we wanted to provide you with a list of opportunities in our city that would be a good fit for you and your family. Click HERE to download the list, look it over and pray about how God could use you in our city to love others. Each of these organizations can be contacted directly with the information provided.

We partner with Converge Worldwide in church planting across the United States.

Student Mission trip to Utah each summer. This vision trip will help our partners at The Front Church in Salt Lake City, Utah run their amazing Kids Camp ministry.

GUATEMALA 2026 TRIPS

Pastor Annette and the team will be available in the Lobby on Sundays January 18 & 25 to answer any questions about our summer 2026 Guatemala Mission trips. 

High School Trip

July 5 – 11, 2026 (any students completing 8th grade by June 2026 are eligible for this trip) For more information or to register by the March 22 deadline High School Guatemala Trip

Family & Adult Trip

July 12 – 18, 2026 (family's w/kids as young as 8 years old and individual adults are eligible for this trip) For more information or to register by the March 22 deadline Family & Adult Guatemala Trip 

WORLD VISION WATER PROJECT

World Vision Water Project

• Everyday 800 kids 5 years and below die due to dirty water 

• Usually kids walk for the dirty water and predominantly  girls

• Kids are often abused, trafficked and attacked by animals on the walk 

• Kids especially girls don’t get to go to school because they have to walk typically 8 miles a day in total for dirty water 

• $50 brings lasting clean water and completely changes a life! 

• You can save a life for $50!

TOGO​

Leadership and Employment help for Pastors and Church Leaders$200 pays for an internship that results in a lifetime career$1000 for a Community College degree that will provide a community leader.$5000 for a University Degree that will equip a nationwide leader.

The Togo team is building a 7 bedroom guest house for interns and visitors. Internships are one of the best ways to get long term missionaries in Togo. The cost of the guest house is $50,000.

THE TIMOTHY INITIATIVE

The Timothy Initiative (TTI) is one of our ministry partners and is an international disciple making and church planting movement. Imagine starting a church in a dried up river bed in Africa or sharing the Gospel in Asia with someone who's never heard of Jesus. Imagine the thrill of planting the first church an unreached village has ever had! More than 3 billion people, 41% of the world, live in areas with little to no access to the Gospel. 

Imagine starting a church in a dried up river bed in Africa or sharing the Gospel in Asia with someone who's never heard of Jesus. Imagine the thrill of planting the first church an unreached village has ever had! More than 3 billion people, 41% of the world, live in areas with little to no access to the Gospel. You can plant a church for $34 a month!

Our network of churches has a goal of planting 1,000 churches! Help us reach that goal by committing to being a sponsor. 

You will be able to pray for your new church plant and follow the progress. Click the button below to learn more and plant a church. Yes, you can plant a church with people who have never heard about Jesus for only $34/month for one year! CLICK HERE to plant a church!

HAITI TEEN CHALLENGE

We partner with Haiti Teen Challenge, a residential recovery program in Haiti.Haiti Teen Challenge (HTC) is the only residential recovery program in Haiti where troubled young men and women are transformed by Christ and equipped to be catalysts for
change for THEIR nation. HTC is gospel-powered, community-based, owned and led by Haitians. Learn more here about why Haiti is so troubled.