Missionary Stories: Taylor

Taylor and her husband, Ryan, have served in Guatemala with Pure Joy multiple times, and we are so thankful for their love and support. Check out Taylor's blog from her recent time in Guatemala in August and September:

"My two favorite parts of our month in Puerto Barrios: First, getting to see Doña Antonia again, but this time with an even greater joy and sense of hope than the last time we saw her! She has always shown appreciation for how Pure Joy has been able to help her, but there also was a weight of sadness she had the last two times I saw her. This trip, when she found out she only had a little bit of time before she would be homeless, instead of being full of sadness, it was evident she knew who her Father God is! He is the provider. I sensed so much peace around her because I could tell she knew her Father would give good gifts! I remember hearing Pastor Roni and Kathy talking about how they wanting to help, but it obviously would take time and God would have to make a way only He could to give her the home she needs. A home that doesn’t just have to be temporary and a home she can feel she belongs at. It was amazing to see how Pure Joy was able to give just that to her! I didn’t get to see that up close but I was sent pictures from the team after I left. I can only imagine the beautiful smile on Doña Antonia’s face when she got to enter her new home.

My second favorite time on this trip to Puerto Barrios, was seeing Angel again, a man at the elderly home. He has such a sweet spirit and he tends to stick to the back of the group when they gather, but each time I went I sat near him. He told me all about his family, his faith and what he used to do for work. Angel has been blind. One of the days before I got to the elderly home, I felt God sharing his heart for people to be healed as I was reading in the Gospels. When we showed up to the elderly home, I could tell Angel was a little different this time. He was sitting with everyone else and very eager to be apart of worship. I could tell something was on his mind, and so I asked him. He told me, “I want to see again. I want God to restore my eyes.” I wasn’t sure if I was understanding so I asked Pastor Roni, and sure enough that is what he said. So we all prayed for him, and he said he could see a little better! I don’t know where his vision is now, but I still pray for Angel and I hope that he will one day see again soon!

​My husband, Ryan, and I are so thankful for Pure Joy Missions in all they do to love the community of Puerto Barrios. The missionary’s have the biggest, most genuine hearts! They love the people so well all year long! People who are able to give to Pure Joy are loving the community of Puerto Barrios so well too! They get to give toward so many efforts that love on Puerto Barrios and enable the missionaries to give their full hearts and hands just like Jesus. I do hope that everyone involved with Pure Joy Missions, (near and far) see’s how invaluable they are in the body of Christ and the work of the gospel in Puerto Barrios."

-Taylor