Oh, hey there! Yes, this is my first blog in almost a year
and a half. Thank you for your patience and grace as I wipe the cobwebs and
dust off of the ol’ laptop and sit down and attempt to put into words what God
is stirring up over here in Antigua, Guatemala.
Antigua is a quaint and lively city, lined with cobblestone
streets and bright-colored restaurants. It’s
the perfect marriage of European charm with Latina vitality that just warms
your soul when you enter the streets and see the people that inhabit them. My
absolute favorite thing about my new home is that it is nestled right in the
midst of multiple active volcanoes. Yes, you heard me right … multiple! I give directions to new people
by using the volcanoes as landmarks. “Yes, start heading towards the Volcan’ de
Agua, and it’ll be your third house on the right.”
Now I often forget that volcanoes actually have lava in
them. In my head, they are just lumpy hills that line the horizon, almost as
big as mountains, and boy are these puppies HOT! We hosted a World Race squad
at our house for dinner one night and one of the Racers ran inside and shouted,
“Come quick, come quick! The volcano is erupting!!!” I ran outside to see what
all the commotion was about. In the darkness of the night, I saw red-hot flames
shooting out of the mouth of the volcano. The flames represent a power that should
not be forgotten nor underestimated.
The Lord is stirring up something here in Guatemala,
bubbling up from the inside getting ready to flow. Most of the time we are
blind to His presence. Similar to how the volcanoes become the norm; they
almost fade into the background of the city. Seriously, I forget that they are
there sometimes. Randomly I’ll look up and my jaw just drops in awe of the
it’s-so-beautiful-it-almost-looks-fake scenery that fills up my window. He
wants us to catch sight of His beauty.
(yes, i did take this photo after my morning run to the cross… kinda proud of this one!)
Stop, observe, take it in …
Paralyzed by the wonder of such majesty. A reminder that He
is beauty and He is in all things.
One thing we are learning is to perceive His will by intentionally
listening to the smooth subtleness of His voice. Putting our ears to the ground
to feel the small vibrations of the seething beneath the surface. He speaks in
the quiet place; you just have to take time to get alone with him for a second
in order to listen.
Lord, show me your
heartbeat today.
Father, what do you
have planned for us today?
Abba, show me how you
see Your Guatemalan children.
I love the rare nights when we catch a glimpse of the fiery
red flames whipping in the wind. Even though things look serene and calm on the
outside, He reminds us that there is a stirring of His heart on the inside.
There is a plan for this nation that is simmering beneath the surface, heating
up. We are here in eager anticipation for the time when the lava is ready to
flow.
All in all, we do not know exactly what the Lord has planned
for our time here in Antigua; however, we do know HE HAS A PLAN and He has been
unlocking many pieces to the puzzle. He’s opened up doors that have led us to
relationships and has set aside time for us to study His word and to get to
know Him on a deeper level. He has also provided us with many useful tools, such
as a big house, a HUGE dinner table to fill with guests, and Spanish classes so
we can communicate with His people.
Thank you for taking this journey with me. It’s not an easy
one. It’s one of faith, patience, and expectancy.
