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I know!!
It’s been too long.
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions—final
goodbyes at home, pre-Launch camera training, Launch, travel days, experiencing
Guatemala in Santa Cruz del Quiche, first days of ministry and meeting our
contact, connecting as a team, etc.
BUT, without further adieu, here is my first blog as an
active World Racer …
Before leaving the States, all September routes (6 different
squads) gathered in Atlanta to have Launch, a day
training/worship/encouragement session. At Launch, we learned where we were
going in Guatemala and received extra training depending on your position in
the squad. Over the week, God comforted
my fears of inadequacy and fears of the unknown. I was continuous reminded that
my role as a team leader did not include bearing others struggles and becoming
weighed down by their strife. I am not made for that. I am made to be free and
to share freedom to others through the power of the Christ. Overall, I left
extremely encouraged by past Racers testimonies on the struggles and joys of
this great adventure that God is leading me on.
The travel day from Atlanta to Santa Cruz del Quiche,
Guatemala went incredibly well. We have a nonstop flight from ATL to GUA and
then boarded three buses that drove us 6 hr from Guatemala City to Santa Cruz
del Quiche.
Our whole squad is together this month! All 55 of us are
staying at a ministry site called Agape in Action in a gated area around the
local hospital. We are tenting this month as well. Thankfully, we have hot
showers and electricity, a huge blessing, believe me. We have wifi inside the town when we go to
cafes. But it’s not too strong. So, I generally can post small stuff, but I
have to try to sneak off with only one or two people to get better wifi in order
to post bigger things.
Even though our squad is living all together (you can
imagine the pros and cons of this), we are divided around the community at
different ministry sites. My team is partnered this month with a small
Christian school, Casa de Sabiduria. We are doing manual labor; they have a lot
next door that we are clearing, uprooting, leveling with dirt then sand, and
digging trenches in order for them to build two additional classrooms. We are
also painting the front exterior wall. The family that runs the school is such
an encouragement, Pastor David, Loly, Rene, Ana Lucia, and Julio! I have
learned so much from them about loving and serving people. Rene has been
accompanying our team everywhere around the city. He is 20 yrs old and wants to
go to college in the States. He speaks English and has helped us translate with
the rest of the family and with the children too! God blessed us with him and
his sweet family this month. I mean, he took seven girls boot shopping in the
middle of the outdoor street vendor
market. Talk about patience. Rene also has a passion for missions and hopes to
do the World Race after college. How awesome is that?! His story inspires me to
live into the life that God longs for me to have.
To be completely honest, during the first full week here in
Quiche I was stressed. Living with 55 people is draining. Learning how to
interact with teammates is draining. Not being able to go on a walk by yourself
is draining. That first week I was depending on my own capabilities to get
stuff done. “I’ve got to get my team to like each other,” “I’ve got to
encourage this girl,” “I’ve got to say something spiritual right now,” “I’ve
got to be myself PLUS what a team leader is supposed to be,” etc.
Notice all the times I used the word “I”. There’s my
problem. I lost sight of my ultimate goal: glorifying God and enjoying Him
moment to moment. The wisdom I had been given at Launch was being tested. I
felt like God was saying, “What are you gonna do here, Laura? Use up all your
strength and your ability or rely on MY strength and MY ability? Are you gonna
place your own intellect over Mine?” Those are some serious questions to be
asked by God. And if I’m honest, these questions from God come to mind daily.
It’s a daily, even moment by moment, surrender of myself..
He wants me to simply rest in Him. And have child-like dependence on Him.
God revealed a beautiful picture of this to me when my team
helped our school kids in the city’s Independence Day parade. We didn’t
understand the teacher’s vision for our portion of the parade, but we aided in
face painting, creating costumes, etc. Once the parade started, I was in utter
shock at what our kids were sharing with the city of Santa Cruz del Quiche.
They were spreading the gospel with every step. A group at the front were
mimes, hand-motioning and choreographing moves to songs about feeling God’s
love in the rain and in the sunset, and how God wants to conquer my heart.
Behind them, several kids were dressed as “Heros of the Faith” and other kids
were dressed at “The Creation.” As I am walking the streets of Santa Cruz with
these kids, I could feel the Spirit move.
It’s this child-like faith, acceptance, and willingness that
God longs for me to have. Just like the song said, He longs to conquer MY
HEART. He chases after me even when I run away. I am His beloved. And I am good
enough for Him, and I can rest in His unconditional acceptance and love.
This Thursday we are boarding a bus to travel to Granada,
Nicaragua. We will spend 3-4 days there, then divide out and go to our
individual ministries. This month all of K Squad was together living at one
location, but next month (and most all months after this) my team of 6 will be
on our own living in a different town and working with a separate ministry from
the other 7 teams on K Squad.
My team will be going to Ometepe Island in the middle of
Lake Nicaragua working with CICRIN orphanage!
Ok, God. Help me finish well here in Quiche, and prepare my
heart and my team’s heart for what you will reveal to us in Nicaragua this next
month.
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL
