Greetings to everyone! 

Here we are nearing the end of another year and we would like to take time to give thanks to God for all He has done this year.  Some of the blessings He has poured out on Impacto’s ministry efforts in Guatemala this year:  over 35 houses and 2 churches were built; 3 full weeks of nothing but medical teams plus 4 additional weeks of teams who held 2-day medical clinics and also built houses; around 4,300 children were ministered to during 4 weeks of VBS in Coban, Zacapa, Guatemala City, and the lake churches and a little over 400 made professions of faith; 85 souls were won for Christ in a 2-night Comalapa crusade which I had the privilege of preaching; training sessions were held for our pastors; 30 Guatemalan Wesleyan Bible Institute (GWBI) [formerly named FLET] students graduated; land purchased for a classroom building at the Coban Church; land for a new church in the lake area has been purchased; hundreds of shoes distributed; teams led worship, ladies ministries, children’s ministries and shared the love of Christ in many, many ways.  For all this, we give praise and glory to God!  Also, I would like to thank each and every person who came to Guatemala, who made a donation, who sent words of encouragement, and who lifted prayers.  Without all of you, Impacto ministries would not be able to serve and witness. 

One huge blessing to my family this year was the addition of our first grandchild, Luis Daniel Mendez.  There are no words to fully express the joy this little one has brought into our lives.  Luis Daniel is such a blessed gift and we are thankful in every way for his life.  Please pray with us that he will grow to give his heart and life to Christ and that God will use him to the advancement of the Kingdom. 

Our family is doing well, my health is improving and I thank you for your prayers.  My doctor is pleased with my weight loss and encourages me to continue a healthy diet.  Dinora is well and has enjoyed being able to minister with me many weeks this year in Guatemala.  Ana is a senior at Indian Wesleyan and looks forward to graduating in the spring.  Andrea and Tony are busy working with Impacto, working in their church, and taking care of Luis Daniel.  We all enjoyed ministering as a family every opportunity we had this year and hope to have many weeks doing the same in the upcoming year.  It is a real blessing to us when we are all serving together.

I hope that you will continue to keep Christ first in your hearts and share His message of love and salvation with others.  We would love to see all of you serving with us in Guatemala during the next year and the coming years.  If you would like to bring a team, please contact Sarah Poythress at spoythress@newlifelapalata.org to see about an available week.

Impacto has many projects and any contribution you may feel lead to donate would be greatly appreciated.  Plans are underway to begin a new GWBI class … if you would like to help a student become equipped to minister, it will cost $150 per person to complete the GWBI program.  The Promised Land cabins are being built, bring a team and build one!  The Pastors Fund has helped many of our pastors this year with emergency health needs.  So many lives have been blessed through the Relief Fund enabling us to deliver food to those who have experienced drought or flooding.  Donations are always welcomed and should be sent to the address listed at the top of this blog.  Checks should be made out to Impacto and if you wish to designate towards a particular project, write it on the memo line of your check.  All donations are tax-deductible and receipts are mailed out in early January for the previous year. 

There are many other things that we want to share with you but a there simply is not enough space! So, again, thank you.  Those words seem so inadequate but they are from the heart.  My family and I wish you a wonderful Christmas Season and pray that you will have a joyous, healthy, and peaceful New Year.

Feliz Navidad!

Luis & Dinora Martinez
   & Family