Chris and Donna married in 1980 and eagerly sought ways to serve in missions, believing Guatemala would be their destination. But God had other plans. A connection with a missionary in Mexico led them to missionary training school, where they studied Spanish and prepared their hearts for the field.

When God's calling becomes a constant presence in your life, you do everything you can to prepare. They sold all they owned—but quickly discovered that the most important preparation was spiritual: daily trust, daily obedience, and deepening their walk with the Lord.

Starting out wasn’t easy. They were raising two very young children on a very tight budget—living on beans, rice, and oatmeal. They experienced discouragement and moments when they felt they couldn’t continue. But just when they were ready to give up, God intervened. One morning, after a night of desperation, they received a knock on their door. It was Wyman Pylant, a missionary leader, offering them the opportunity to start an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. When one door seemed to close, God flung open another.

They spent the next decade parenting 60 children in the orphanage. Then came a time of release—they knew their season in Mexico was coming to a close. Back in the States, they assumed their time in missions had ended. But God wasn’t finished.

Two and a half years later, they received a letter from a missionary in Guatemala, inviting them to continue her work with people with disabilities. After a short trip to Guatemala, they knew this was where God was calling them next.

So once again, they sold everything and drove to Guatemala with little more than faith. There were few resources and an overwhelming need—but God provided. Wheelchairs. Supplies. Financial support. Ministries like Hope Haven International, Joni and Friends, and Mission: Mobility came alongside them.

As they traveled the country, they encountered needs far beyond mobility: people needed homes, food, medical help, education—and hope. So Bethel Ministries expanded to meet those needs. By following where God led. Always one step at a time.

Their story is full of miracles. One unforgettable moment happened at a wheelchair distribution in northern Guatemala. A mission team member unknowingly chose a chair for a little girl—the same chair he and his wife had donated years earlier after the death of their daughter. That sacred connection was a profound reminder of God’s faithfulness and personal care.