New Generation in Chichicastenango

Wow!! Guatemala has been absolutely amazing! I cannot believe we are already done with our first country. I am so so sad to be leaving all of the beautiful people we have met this past month. Since my last blog a lot has happened. 

 

One of the biggest parts of this month was kids ministry and I must say I have enjoyed every minute of it. These children have brought so much joy to my life over the past month. Their excitement to learn more about Jesus and try new things is so inspiring. I have seen so many kids who are so eager to step up and become leaders in this community which is something we have been praying with our host Juan about ever since we got here. To see so many kids show up each week ready to worship with us has been so awesome. In the kids ministry we were able to do a lot with them on the days they came. We usually start out with a Bible lesson along with a skit, a short English lesson, we help them learn a new verse each week, then we color and play games with them. As I reflect I am just so thankful for the time we had here. Being a part of these kids’ lives for just these few short weeks has already given me such a new perspective. You can tell that they don’t have much but they are so present and grateful for what they do have. On days when we would feed them, I would see kids save half of their meals to take home to their families. Many of them would bring us apples and flowers just to show their appreciation. They are all so young but already so willing to put others before themselves. Their selflessness is something that I hope to learn as I continue to grow this year. Leaving them has been so tough but I am so grateful for the short period of time that we did get to spend with them here in Guatemala. It has been an honor to be a part of this team to help Juan grow his ministry. I believe that a lot of seeds have been planted this month and I just pray that God is able to grow this new generation here in Chichicastenango. Our last week here we were able to pray over one of the little boys who is deaf. As we prayed over him he had the brightest smile on his face. It was such a heartfelt moment and I just pray that God continues to bless him and his future. 

In addition to the kids ministry we also got the opportunity to work with leaders in the community. One day all 26 of the community leaders joined us to help redo the soccer field that all the children play on. It meant a lot because this was the field that we played soccer on all month long with the kids. We spent the day repainting the goal posts, cutting down grass, picking up trash, laying down field lines, and installing trash cans around the field. After we spent the day working, we were able to do a little worship service with the leaders and they joined us for lunch. This was such a special day because this was one of the first things we have done where we get to see work being completed. One of the struggles for me this month has been being okay with just planting the seed and letting the Lord do the rest of the work. With the short amount of time that we spend in each country we don’t have many opportunities to see how our work lasts long term. But in this moment we got to see the impact this renovation had on this community. The kids were so excited to see the changes done to their field. 

This past month, Pastor Juan has put such an emphasis on working with the leaders here in Guatemala because they are the ones who have the authority to bring change. One night we were able to invite the police officers over to our host home for dinner and worship. We had a little bonfire, some of my teammates shared their testimonies and we were able to sing a few songs with the officers. Before they left I was able to pray over them and ask the Lord to protect them and give them comfort as they head back into the line of duty. It was truly so amazing to see how the leaders are eager to learn more about God and find comfort in trusting him. God is moving in so many ways here in Guatemala.

 

Leaving Guatemala is going to be bittersweet. On one hand I am excited to move to the next country and continue the journey of planting seeds around the world. However, on the other hand I am sad to be leaving all of the people that I have grown to love in this short time of being here. Going into this I was nervous for how I would feel being away from home to then be thrown into this completely different way of life. But God truly blessed me and my team with the greatest host family ever!! Pastor Juan has faith that I have never seen before. His willingness to be obedient and patient in what God has planned for him is truly so inspiring. Anyone who comes in Pastor Juans presence can just tell that his deep passion for everything he does is just evidence of how beautiful and strong his relationship is with the Lord. I have learned so much from him about what it looks like to depend solely on God for everything. His wife Evelyn brings so much joy and encouragement to everyone she encounters. I wasn’t able to have the deepest conversations with her due to the language barrier but she never failed to love us in times when we needed it. 

Overall, this month has been filled with so many highs and lows and I already can see the growth I have made in my walk with God. I won’t lie there have been a lot of moments where I get scared when I realize the commitment I have made for this year. But everytime I seem to doubt my decision God continues to remind me of my purpose for being here. I think one of the biggest struggles has been the amount of still time we have. The way of life here is so different from life in the states. Back at home I was so used to constantly being on the go. I was always busy and ready to move on to the next new thing. However, this month God has been teaching me to be still, to listen to His voice and learn to be completely dependent on him. I have more opportunities to spend time reading and studying on the Word, which I feel has drawn me to grow in my intimacy with God. I also feel like I have been beginning to find a new identity in Jesus. Through this I already see myself becoming more confident and joyful in the Lord. Yes. This year will be full of challenges and it will force me to step out of my comfort zone. I am already learning to let go of the comforts I was so used to having and instead looking to God for everything I may need. This process of abandonment has been tough but I know it will only strengthen my faith in the Lord. 

 

As we prepare to head to our next country which is Honduras, I just ask that everyone continues to pray for safety and health. Me and my whole squad will be spending the next month in tents on top of a mountain. Ministry is expected to consist of evangelism, manual labor, and helping lay the foundation of a new church. I am so excited for the ways that the Lord will move through us in the upcoming months. And as always I thank everyone for the continued support and prayers for us here on the field.