For the past 2 1/2 months my team and I have been so blessed to be living and working alongside the YWAM base here in Guatemala City. God has been so good to us (isn’t He always?) and I have been able to build so many amazing relationships and witness the faithfulness of our Father alongside my family here.
(Celebrating Guatemala’s Independence Day with the fam)
When we arrived here back in August, YWAM was 2 weeks into their DTS (Discipleship Training School) which they do once a year. There were 7 students, as well as the staff who were leading and discipling them, that we would study the Bible, worship, eat, do ministry, do chores, and laugh alongside on the daily. Although the language barrier was challenging for me at the beginning (many of them only speak some English and I didn’t speak any Spanish), over time I was able to become friends with everyone through many conversations filled with broken Spanish, English, laughs and hand gestures. I have absolutely LOVED living life alongside these beautiful, hilarious, inspiring humans.
(International Dinner where 8 different nations were represented)
Ever since we arrived, the DTS was making plans for their outreach. The way this DTS worked was that they had 2 months of classes/lectures here in Guatemala, and then planned to go to Morocco to spread the gospel of Jesus to Muslims there for 1 month.
They were in the midst of fundraising, but, as you would expect, buying plane tickets and paying for living expenses for 14 people to go to Morocco for a month is not cheap. On top of this, many of the students were still trying to raise money to pay off their lecture phase, so the financial aspect of the outreach was the biggest obstacle that they faced as they prepared to go to the place that God had so clearly called them.
In this season of waiting, every Thursday morning we would fast breakfast and instead spend that time praying for God to provide the finances that they needed. We would spend morning after morning worshipping God, crying out to Him, and seeking His face.
(Photo by Brian Hurley)
However, their scheduled departure date was quickly approaching and none of the finances were coming in. In this time of uncertainty, I was able to witness the immense faith of all of the students and staff. Never once did they doubt that God would provide. They had no plan B because they were certain that where God calls, He provides. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”, and this is exactly what they were doing. They were constantly seeking His face and doing work to further His kingdom as they waited for Him to move.
(Photos by Brian Hurley)
I was so privileged to get to be a part of what they were doing during the past few months. Whether it was praying fervently alongside them, doing ministry together, or surrendering all to the Lord in worship, God was using their faith to strengthen mine. They were an incredible example to me of what total, undoubting trust in our Father looks like.
In the end, they had to push their departure date back a week because they still didn’t have their plane tickets or visas. Then on the Sunday when they were originally supposed to leave, they received a generous donation from someone that was enough to cover the whole cost of all 14 plane tickets for them to get to Morocco! What a miracle! They were also able to get their visas in 3 days even though in normally takes 2 weeks, and another donor bought all of their health insurance for them.
God is so good! In the span of 3 days He provided EVERYTHING that the DTS needed to get to Morocco! In the midst of all of the uncertainty, He had a perfect plan and worked everything out in His perfect timing. God used this whole situation to strengthen their faith, as well as mine, and to bring glory to His name. James 1:2-4 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” We were able to witness a miracle from Heaven, and all we could do was praise Him for His neverending faithfulness.
(Photo by Brian Hurley)
I am so thankful to God for the way He worked in my life through this experience. Even though I was not going on outreach with them, I was able to cry alongside them in the hard times and rejoice with them when God came through in the end. Over the past 3 months I have worshipped my Father with more fervour and passion, prayed and interceded for others, and sought the Lord in His word more than I ever had before.
(Photos by Brian Hurley)
It has now been nearly a week since the DTS left for their outreach, and even though I miss them all so much, it was such a blessing to be able to send them off. I am still blown away just by the fact that they are actually there, and I know that the Lord must have some pretty amazing things in store for them to do to further His kingdom in that nation. I am continually praying for protection, for divine encounters, and that every person they come in contact with will experience the love of Christ through their witness.
The DTS is continually trusting in the Lord’s faithfulness to provide, as they are still in need of funds to cover the cost of food and lodging while in Morocco. If this story of God’s goodness toward them has touched your heart in any way at all and you would like to be a part of their miracle, please feel free to contact me and I will let you know how you can donate toward their outreach.
I thank the Lord daily for the way He has blessed me with this family here and for allowing me to be a part of His miracle. God is so good all the time!
Update: I only have 1 week left here in Guatemala before my squad flies out to our next destination, SOUTH AFRICA, on the 5th of November! Stay tuned for another blog coming soon about what I have learned during my 3 months here!
God bless you,
Cindy
(My team and all 7 of the DTS students at the zoo)
