New life plan: Head to Uganda
Published: 8/29/2010 12:04 AM
By Dave Heun | Daily Herald Columnist
Who would leave a steady job these days? Or try to sell their house to go live in a Third World country?
Jim and Margaret Guzzaldo fall into that category. They met in 1999 during their senior year in high school at St. Charles (now East) High School and got married after completing college. They were introduced to Christianity as adults and began reconsidering what to do with their lives.
The couple was swayed heavily to make a life decision most comfortable Americans would not, because "God had our attention," Jim says.
Both had successful jobs - Jim as an executive pastry chef in Chicago; Margaret as a communications coordinator - but a desire to spread their Christian wings was moving them to investigate mission work in Third World countries.
"We discovered the 'International Teams' organization, with an office out of Elgin, and Margaret began working for them in communications," Jim said. "She was encouraged to attend a leadership conference, and I tagged along and started learning about it, too. And we discovered that it was really exciting work."
After mission projects in three other countries, the Guzzaldos focused on Uganda and the mission of "Team Beyond" to support and equip churches in that country.
"Part of that mission was a need for vocational training for the pastors and ministers over there because they have to have other jobs to support their families," Jim said. "They started telling us that they needed trainers in agriculture, carpentry and baking - and my ears perked up when they said baking because I was a professional pastry chef."
It turned out that a musical trainer was also needed, which fit Margaret's passion, with her degree in music business.
"We took a two-week trip to Uganda in November of 2008, and our calling was confirmed," Jim said.
The couple is raising money needed for the self-funded mission - with the intent to leave in October to move to Soroti, Uganda, with their baby for two years. They must raise 100 percent of the monthly funds needed - at $6,000 a month - to last the two years.
"We are getting donations from many who support us, and help from our own church, Trinity Vineyard Fellowship in St. Charles," Jim said.
Anyone who would like to help in this effort can do so through the couples' interesting website, guzzaldos.com.
