We are almost at our weekiversiry here in Quiche [key-che] Guatemala and literally so much has happened including culture shock, rice and beans, and September the 15th, which is Guatemala’s Independence Day. However this post is going to be specifically about my team’s ministry site. Don’t worry next week will be more updates on these such activities.
My mind was blown the other day and that’s exactly what I prayed for.
My very first ministry site of the Race is at a senior center; which literally is about the only population I have trouble working with. I just knew God would want to challenge me with ministry first crack out of the box, he’s funny like that. My team almost had an unsaid consensus about this idea we had in our heads about what we would be doing and none of us were that fond of the idea. Timid as we were we said a quick prayer for open minds and headed out.
That morning my personal prayer was that “God please just blow my mind, in whatever way you want, just blow me away.” Just a simple prayer with no specifics, I just knew God would show up if I was really invested in seeing him. Let me just say that he did.
We got there and were greeted by probably 30 tiny, beautiful Guatemalan elderly people; that were full of smiles, kisses, and fireworks ready for us. By fireworks I don’t mean literally but it was just a cute hand gesture that they give guests, I think.
Let me just give a run down of the rest of the day because the almost 5 hours we were there were absolutely, literally so much fun. We started off with a greeting and almost immediately turned on la musica and started to dance with them. I danced with a little woman half my size but she led the dance the whole time and even turned me around, facing forward, and I started a conga line with everyone. From there they ate breakfast and we embarked on a “field trip” that included passing though the street, an abandoned building, and up a tiny hill to a man named Phillipe’s field. Our field trip included the hokey pokey, an hilarious game called bird’s fly, a spongebob piñata filled with apples and peanuts, lunch and a serious game of futbol. This seems like a normal day but the seniors are almost all over the age of 60 and 70. How many games of soccer have you played with a 70 year old?! They blew my mind; honestly, every preconceived idea of that population was wiped away. Even though I only speak a tiny bit of Spanish and they spoke no English we communicated so beautifully all day. Lots of Spanglish but it all worked out. Each of them had so much love to share with each other and us. They all held hands for safety and gave as many kisses as they could to us the whole day.
That day was full of so many smiles and laughter and is just what we needed from God to know we are exactly where we are supposed to be.
I’m going to keep praying these small simple things. I’ve learned so much in the past month bout the impact of really looking at the day ahead and praying for small things helps me stay in the present and actually see God work throughout the day.
This blog is simple and sweet but I’m excited to share that we are all safe and having some great moments here in Quiche. I’m sad I don’t have pictures for this post but they will for sure come soon when I figure this whole uploading thing And the wifi I’d better.
Thanks for making it to the bottom and more updates will be coming soon!
