Carmack resident Shane Boyette’s experience as a masonry contractor has led him to making numerous mission trip,s but Ahava Ministries in Guatemala has almost become a fulltime job.
His first mission experience using his masonry expertise was to Bangladesh with Rev. James Young, pastor of McAdams Baptist Church, who spent 30 years as a missionary to that country. He has also made several mission trips to Honduras.
The one to Guatemala captured his heart and has led him to an ongoing ministry as he makes regular trips to Santa Ellana Barillas, Guatemala, for work with Ahava Ministries Inc.
Boyette left this week on his 28th trip over a period of the last several years to the country where he has been involved in building a medical clinic, a mission house and a church in a small and poor village.
Ahava Ministries is dedicated to serving orphaned and poverty stricken people through relationships, spiritual mentorship and education.
Boyette became involved when asked to accompany a team from North Winona Baptist Church to Guatemala on a project in which masonry skills were needed. “While on that trip I fell in love with the people of Guatemala,” he said.
Boyette said he made close relationships with two poverty-stricken boys, convincing him of the real need in the country which gave him a zeal to help. He related the story of two boys, 12 and four, begging on the street to whom he gave money for food. “I had been approached many times before by people seeking help and just trying to survive another day in a hopeless situation. But this day was different,” he said. After watching them eat potato chips with the money he gave them, he said he felt convicted by God to do more. With the help of a translator and a chase, he located the boys and explained to them that he was a Christian doing mission work. He took them to a restaurant and while they ate, he learned that the four-year-old was caregiver to the 12 year-old who had a mental impairment and had no place to call home.
“I just could not believe that in 2014 people were living in these conditions. These children were hopeless, they had no dreams, no hope for anything other than a life of misery. That is the reason we started Ahava Ministries Inc.,” he said.
Ahava is a Hebrew word meaning love, loving and sacrifice.
Boyette’s involvement has led to his spending two weeks each month in Guatemala taking teams with him to work and minister. He said 12 teams have made trips this summer. When he is not there, five fulltime employees operate the ministry feeding approximately 100 children every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Doors open at 10 a.m. and until lunch is provided, team members disciple the children using Vacation Bible School curriculum and they are engaged in arts and crafts.
In addition to teaching them about Jesus and providing food, the children are given lessons in hygiene. Clothing is also distributed at the facility
Boyette said the ministry is hopeful of building an orphanage. Ahava Ministries continues to grow. Since 2015 it has become a 501c3, non-profit Christian organization operating on donations.
Boyette is founder and the board of directors includes Mike Rozier, Holly Bridges, John Goldwater, Steven Pruit, Russel Durham and Bill Holland.
Boyette said anyone interested in becoming a part of the ministry should contact him or a board member.
