Sun pierced the trees and littered the ground among us. Sitting in the tall grass with guitar in hand, I was circled by a crowd of the most colorfully dressed children I have ever seen. Faces of laughter, joy, and curiosity surrounded me. I had never been to a Mayan village in my life before and now, with my first venture to one, I have been changed forever.
This month on the World Race my team and I are serving at a place in Guatemala called GO! Ministries. This ministry is located in Xenacoj (shen-uh-coh), Guatemala. It is headed up by a Guatemalan man and his wife, and it aims to take care and love on widows and orphans in the local area. It’s a beautiful ministry and place to serve at. Along with spending time with widows and orphans in the local vicinity, our ministry makes stops at local Mayan villages to help schools and spend time with kids. YES, MAYAN villages that are not extinct but still a group of people that live nowadays, contrary to what some people (yours truly) might have previously thought! These.. have been my favorite experiences.
One of the places we go to is called “Cruz Ayapan” or simply just “Ayapan” and it’s about a 20 minute drive away. When we go there we usually go to the village’s schools and help in their classrooms, and often we go to their recess time and play right along with them. Being someone who isn’t always prone to kicking a soccer ball around, I brought along my friends guitar. Now, this first afternoon that we arrived, I walked over to a spot in the meadow with my friend Andie and we sat down to belt out some tunes. In a matter of seconds we found ourselves encircled by at least fifty Mayan kids whose eyes (and ears) we had caught the attention of. It was own little audience of love. We started singing the few Spanish songs we know and little by little the curious kids joined in and began singing with us more than just staring at us.
Now, I am someone who doesn’t exactly enjoy the spotlight. I wince at the idea of speaking to a crowd in public and when all eyes are on me sweat starts pouring out like I’m sitting in a hot sauna. I even remember one time when I was about 7 years old, my mom bought me a nice, new outfit for 2nd grade and I started sobbing with the thought of sticking out and having my classmates notice the new changes. Needless to say, I don’t relish the limelight, and it’s been like this for the span of my life.
But this instance was different. This time I was singing with my Jesus and singing about my powerful Savior and my intimate friend. This time I was proclaiming His name with a group of tiny Mayan grade school kids and there wasn’t a care on my mind. This time it wasn’t about me. This time it was about exalting the Joy that I know full well.
Psalm 34 verses 1 and 2 say the following: “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My souls makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.” (ESV)
My soul makes its boast in God. This is something that rings so true for me on the World Race. I can experience a million fun things traveling the world. I can see beautiful sights, interesting people, and try funky new food, but my soul only ever feels it’s fullest when I am spending time with my God.
I am changing everyday on this journey. This instance with the Mayan kids in Ayapan has sparked a new fire in me when it comes to worship and when it comes to how I live out who I am. When I sing and speak and just be, I am living for the one High King. Let His love reign in my life.
Ephesians 3:17-18: “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
