Missionaries in Guatemala

David and Helen Ekstrom felt God calling them to be missionaries 55 years ago. After struggling with the Lord, they decided that even if being a missionary led to a life of frustration they could not continue to struggle with God. As soon as this decision was made the Lord gave them peace and a desire to be missionaries. From that day to this neither has ever doubted the call, nor wanted to do anything else. They have lived in the rural area of Huehuetenango for more than 50 years. The assurance of being called by God has sustained their work in Guatemala even at times when situations made them feel they should leave.

Currently, the Ekstrom's work with CAM International, Guatemala Bible Institute. The main focus of their ministry is Bible Translation. 25 years ago David and Helen had a vision of seeing the Bible translated into the six languages in their area. They, along with their helpers, recently completed a fourth language translation of the entire Bible to the San Mateo Chuj language. The Chuj Scriptures are in their final revision process and will soon be presented to the people group. The Ekstrom's have lived in the rural area of Huehuetenango for more than 50 years and have learned five indigenous languages of Guatemala.

Joe and Sheryl Goll, with their three daughters Bethany, Christina, and Sarah, are serving with OC International in Guatemala. The primary focus of their ministry is leadership development and missions mobilization. Joe has been involved in the training of pastors and leaders in rural areas.

Their desire is to see churches in Guatemala, and throughout Central America, be doctrinally sound, while reproducing themselves so that they are able to meet the spiritual needs of Guatemala and the uttermost parts of the world.

Stuart and Sheny Salazar minister in Guatemala with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). The Salazar's goal is to serve Christian schools all over Latin America. They strongly believe in God's call for Latin America and that it is "the continent of the future". More than half of the population is 18 or younger. The Salazar's believe Latin America is experiencing one of the greatest Christian revivals of all times, with a notorious growth of the Christian Evangelical church everywhere. Stuart says, "It is the time to be where God is at move! Latinos are the perfect mix of all ethnic groups." Stuart reports that they are called "mestizos because it is here where God chose to gather the main people groups (black, white, indigenous tribes) and produce an ethnic mix that identifies well with every people group in the world: Muslims, Africans, Europeans, Hindus, Chinese, everyone receives a Latino as his own." The Salazar's have people skills that make them great missionaries to other people groups.

Stuart is ACSI's Regional Director and Sheny is Director of ACSI Conventions. They have two children, Andy and Sareth.

Kyle and Nell Stiff serve in Guatemala with OC International. They have two young daughters, Kayla and Elena. Kyle and Nell are from Northern California. Kyle grew up in Chico and Nell in Saratoga attending SFC until she was 14. Her parents then moved to Grass Valley which is where the two met when Kyle spent two years working with the high school group at Nell's church. They both graduated from Biola University and Kyle also graduated from Talbot School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity. With many years serving in youth ministry and having traveled numerous times to Central America the couple felt called to serve full time in the Spanish speaking world. They found One Challenge (OC International) and liked the vision and strategy of the mission and were accepted as career missionaries in 1998. They were sent out to the Central American Regional Team, which resides in Guatemala, in January of 2000, with the hopes of training national youth leaders. After arriving in Guatemala, they were introduced to the growing missions movement in Latin America and were asked to help train Latin missionaries being sent around the world.

Their vision is to see a new generation of Latin Americans challenged by the Great Commission to become a harvest force serving as missionaries around the world.