Lisa Immel

My journey to Impacting One Life at a Time in Guatemala started in my college years when I discovered a passion for both travel and serving communities abroad. I graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies with a dream of putting the love of Jesus into action in communities around the world. College loans and school debt put a damper in my plans for many years, and eventually I became distracted by the humdrum of everyday life, but that ache to live and serve abroad never wavered. I was able to live and teach in Korea for a year, but unforeseen circumstances made it a difficult experience and made me wonder if I had what it takes to live in and serve communities so far from home.

Fast forward a few years and finally paying off my school loans enabled me to save up money and travel with my friend Jackie to Colombia, South America. While making plans for our time there, I was reminded that a family member had a ministry in Guatemala, which had a Colombian branch, so Jackie and I made plans to spend a few days with team leader Jinnela and the Impacting One Life at a Time team in Corozal, Colombia. Our time in the Colombian culture and with the people of Corozal and Rincón Del Mar reaffirmed and reignited that call that I had felt years before.

Within weeks of returning to the states after our trip, I reached out to my cousin Donna Delp de Pitman and her husband Peter to find out how I could become more involved in their ministries in Colombia and Guatemala. After a few months of prayer and consideration and with the support of my family and friends, I wound up on my way to Colombia for intensive Spanish classes, and then to Guatemala to serve with the Impacting One Life at a Time ministry for as long as a tourist visa would allow me (just under 3 months). At the end of that time, I decided to remain in Guatemala for a longer term to serve in whatever way I can. I have fallen in love with the community here and look forward to growing closer with the people we serve. We strive to find ways to empower the people one life at a time, whether it be through medical clinics, arts and crafts programs, bible study programs, or sports programs. I have been able to be a part of each of these programs and they each bring so much joy. I can’t wait to dive in deeper and see what God has in store for me and this incredible ministry!