Word Vom from Guatemala

It’s been weeks since my last blog, and I apologize.
Every single time I go to write down words I get overwhelmed.
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.
IT’S BEEN A MERE 10 DAYS SINCE LAUNCHING FROM CHICAGO.
 
Since September 9^th, 2012, the entire L Squad has been in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala:

Have all been taking place here with my L Squad family.
 
As far as ministry goes L Squad, and my team: Team Pursuit, has been mightly stretched since getting here.
 
The first two days for ministry, we were stationed in the local hospital which is about a 2 minute walk away from our contact’s residence.

We witnessed new life and the joy that comes through holding newborn babies, but then the grip of death reared it’s ugly head in visiting severe malnutritioned toddlers, and frail elderly women being wheeled from one room to the next a few doors down.
 
In the evenings we had worship, and teaching sessions from Seth Barnes. 
It was during these times that the Holy Spirit would take over and just begin to flat out move through us and in us.
 
I specifically remember the start of it all…

But then, we banned together in the name of Jesus and spoke His healing, and restoration and freedom truths over each other; and we’ve been helping each other walk in those things daily. We began to love each other like Christ loves the church, and pursue each other with the intention of building up the body of Christ.
 

 
Today was our first Sabbath day. We didn’t have to go to ministry, so we woke up late, ate pancakes, and went into the city to walk around and see all the sites while the local Guatemalan’s celebrated their Independence Day. We went to a local chain fast food restaurant and ate our chicken sandwiches in the central town square, and were immediately surrounded by dogs.
My heart began to break as I began to realize they weren’t alone. People were begging for our food now too.
We threw our food away, and I witnessed one of the men who were begging, dig through the disgusting trash to fish out the rest of our untouched French fries.
 
My heart, my mind… they’re at a loss for words.
What the friggin heck is going on!?
 
Literally, my heart is shattered.
The men and women on my squad have been sharing their heart wretching stories, and at time I just feel so hopeless, filled with pain! I look into the eyes of the Mayan Guatemalan woman on the corner and my heart breaks as I see her eyes so filled with numbness from her past. I try and smile to the shy street girl to show her that she is so precious in the eyes of Jesus, but she runs away.

I am so pissed. I am so hurt. I am so overwhelmed with sorrow. I am so freaking confused when digging for answers to all of my “WHY GOD?!” questions.
 
YET:
I am emboldened with faith, strength, and love that only comes from Christ.
I am resting in the true FACT that God is moving and working in the L Squad community and the nation of Guatemala.
I have HOPE! It’s a ridiculous eternal kind of hope that I still am figuring out and learning.. but I’ve come to the solid realization that it only can come through Christ.
HE’S GOT EVERY THING IN HIS HANDS, AND I’M SURRENDERING ALL CONTROL TO HIM. HE IS CRAZY IN LOVE WITH ME, AND HIS ENTIRE CREATION!!
 
“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of singing” – Isaiah 51:3
 
“For He is the Living God and he endures forever, His Kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. HE RESCUES HE SAVES; HE PERFORMS SIGNS AND WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS AND ON THE EARTH. HE HAS RESCUED DANIEL FROM THE POWER OF THE LIONS.” – Daniel 6:26-27

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8