Shining Light Abroad Ministries

08/31/2026

Save the Date!

Our annual Grace Gathering has become one of the events we look forward to most each year—and this year is going to be EXTRA special! We are incredibly excited because some of our dear Guatemalan friends will be joining us in Michigan! You’ll get to hear firsthand about what God is doing through Grace Ministries and meet some of the people whose lives you are helping impact....

Our annual Grace Gathering has become one of the events we look forward to most each year—and this year is going to be EXTRA special! We are incredibly excited because some of o…

08/07/2026

Priceless Moments!

They studied hard. They completed every practice test. They stayed focused through days of standardized testing. So today we celebrate. As I write this, I'm listening to 19 seniors laugh together over lunch in Antigua. The conversations are nonstop. The selfies keep coming. I'm sure their social media profile pictures will be changing before the day is over. They've wandered the beautiful streets of Antigua....

They studied hard. They completed every practice test. They stayed focused through days of standardized testing. So today we celebrate. As I write this, I’m listening to 19 seniors laugh toge…

08/01/2026

The Price of Growth!

“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, “My own strength has saved me." Judges 7:2 When God called Gideon to battle, He intentionally reduced his army to only 300 men. Humanly speaking, it made no sense. But that was the point. There would be no question who deserved the glory when the victory came....

“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, “My own strength has saved me.” Judges 7:2 When God called Gideon…

07/15/2026

We Love the Smiles!

We enjoyed a "Summer Break" last week, but we loved seeing the children return to the school! We miss them when they are not with us. This blog is only filled with pictures of the cutest children (and youth) ever! Of course, they spent the afternoon watching the soccer games on a huge inflatable screen! How can they focus on academics when they know the soccer games are being played?!

We enjoyed a “Summer Break” last week, but we loved seeing the children return to the school! We miss them when they are not with us. This blog is only filled with pictures of the cutes…

07/10/2026

It’s Just a Cake Auction…Right?

Every year, Grace Ministries hosts our Annual Cake Auction to raise funds for children and families in need. I sometimes wonder if people quietly ask themselves, "Does my donation really make a difference?" God continues to answer that question for me over and over again. A shy, reserved teenage girl—I'll call her K—walked up to our school director, Julio, and almost whispered the words no child should ever have to say. ...

Every year, Grace Ministries hosts our Annual Cake Auction to raise funds for children and families in need. I sometimes wonder if people quietly ask themselves, “Does my donation really make…

06/29/2026

A Weekend of Memories!

Every year, the Music Expo is one of the highlights of our calendar. For three exciting nights, Christian artists fill the stage with music, worship, and encouragement. It's such a popular event that we have to purchase our tickets an entire year in advance! This year brought us a wonderful challenge—our youth group has nearly doubled in size over the last year!...

Every year, the Music Expo is one of the highlights of our calendar. For three exciting nights, Christian artists fill the stage with music, worship, and encouragement. It’s such a popular ev…

06/23/2026

Happy K!

K walked into English class on a Saturday morning and sat in the back row. She started coming to our school a couple of years ago along with her younger brother. She is a shy girl who is always very respectful. She is beautiful and introverted. I have never really seen her smile much, but I assumed it was due to her shyness....

K walked into English class on a Saturday morning and sat in the back row. She started coming to our school a couple of years ago along with her younger brother. She is a shy girl who is always ver…

06/01/2026

The Results!

“You need to hit it out of the park with the first graduating class.” Those were the words spoken to me years ago. They have replayed in my mind ever since. No pressure at all. A few years later, I sat down with the director of an elite school in Guatemala and asked a simple question: “Do you think it’s important for our students to be bilingual?”...

“You need to hit it out of the park with the first graduating class.” Those were the words spoken to me years ago. They have replayed in my mind ever since. No pressure at all. A few years later, I…

05/27/2026

Attitude Adjustment

“I am about to give you an attitude adjustment!”“You are getting too big for your britches!”“I am going to bring you down a few notches!” Oh those words… you either heard them from your parents or you have said them as a parent. I needed these words as a child and I need these words as an adult. …...

“I am about to give you an attitude adjustment!”“You are getting too big for your britches!”“I am going to bring you down a few notches!” Oh those words… you either heard them from your parents or …

05/18/2026

Intentional Prayer

I entered the church gym expecting a simple time of fellowship. People were scattered around the room talking and laughing, and enjoying the company of others. But as I looked around, a wall covered in pictures caught my attention. At first glance, I recognized a few of the faces, so I walked closer to take a better look. Every single picture was of E....