Ok, so as you all know, I asked God for a serving heart this month. And boy, did He give that to me! It’s the end of the month, and I feel pretty exhausted. Physically from the random chores, helping the kids in school, being up by 6:30 every morning to start the day, and the lack of variety in our diet; and mentally from the language barrier and the frustrations that come from figuring out what the nannies are saying to me. ("Mas despacio, por favor." Much slower please) [But, I am learning and getting better with my Spanish! 
]
On Thursday, seven of us decided to go to Lake Atitlan for our off day. It was absolutely gorgeous and I would recommend it to anybody and everybody to visit and experience!
This month, my squad was split up into 4 different ministry sites. Two of the eight teams were in one of the towns on the lake. As I was sitting on the boat as we were going across the lake, I started to feel a sense of jealousy and comparison. The question, “Why do those teams get to live a month on this beautiful lake and my team gets to spend a month inside a 4 wall compound with a strict curfew?”
And then I started thinking. And then praying.
God, what is your purpose for this month for my team and I?
Our purpose, for the two teams here, is to specifically love these children and only our two teams could love them the way God wants them to be love.
Each child here has something special inside of them. A spark. A spark that resembles our Father. He delights in each and every one of them. They are beautiful and PERFECT!
This is my buddy Andres. He’s 7 years old and he was abandoned by his mother at the age of 1 due to always being sick, weak and developing incorrectly. He was living in a hospital for two months alone before Los Gozosos took him in. He has been diagnosed with a permanent disability, delayed development disorder, and declared abandoned. Within the years of living at Los Gozosos, he now can open his hands and use them fully as well as full range of motion of his arms which he never had before. He cannot talk and walk by himself, but you wouldn’t be able to tell of his disabiity by his evident smile that radiates every time you tickle him and play music. I’m convinced that God will bless Andres to be a musician because he loves any toy that makes music. This little boy has truly made a mark on my heart. All the girls have seen the connection I have made with him even if it’s nonverbally. I have enjoyed working with him on his physical therapy and I pray that God continues to strengthen his little body and grow him into a functional man.
Let me just tell you about Daniel. Daniel is 14 years old with some physical disabilities. I think every single person can learn from Daniel. I know I have. This boy has such a HUGE faith for our Heavenly Father. Daniel has had a rough life. He came to Los Gozosos when he was 11 years old. His family never really cared for him from an early age. He was neglected and was admitted to the hospital for malnutrition. Daniel knows that his life hasn’t been beautiful, and that’s why he waits for his heavenly home with his Father. He has an intense relationship with Jesus. He has had visions of Jesus taking him
to his house in Heaven. Daniel said it’s a mansion and God sits down with him and just talks to him. When Daniel worships, he’s the first one to put his hands up and closes his eyes. It’s truly touching! I get tears in my eyes every time I hear him sing, pray and worship to our Jesus.
This here is Andrea. She is 11 years old and has partial facial paralysis, severe delayed development, and some symptoms of Autism. She was abandoned by her mother when she was just 5 months old and was being raised by an adoptive family for a while and then they decided they didn’t want to take care of her due to her disabilities. She was not taken care of well until she came to Los Gozosos when she was 3 years old. On my first day here, Andrea instantly clung to me. She has such a sweet personality and her love language is definitely physical touch. She enjoys giving hugs and kisses, holding your hand, and play with your jewelry. She reminds me of a lot of children (and teenagers) at home by she is very smart but doesn’t like to apply herself. When she gets focused on her work, she completes it in a timely manner and all the answers are right. On our last Saturday here, we took the kids and nannies to a local park. There was a pool there to take them swimming. That was the day that I heard and saw Andrea laugh and smile the most since I have been there. That girl is a fish…loves the water! I had so much fun with her that day! It was great to start my month and end my month with memories with Andrea.
The month here in Guatemala has been overflowed with many emotions: exhaustion, frustration, joy, excitement and patience. It even involved me using my skills as a certified athletic trainer. From doing physical therapy with the kids to helping with medical clinics at a local dump and also a village. My team luckily consists of 2 nurses and me, the athletic trainer. It was really nice to be able to utilize my professional experience on the world race to help people medically.
As many of you know, when I work, I give 100%. This month God gave me over 100% of a servant’s heart, maybe even around 500%. I feel like my heart is overflowing of service. I always try to find something that needs to be done and I do it. That’s what I’m here for. As my month in Guatemala ends, my month in Nicaragua begins.
I pray that God continues to refill my serving heart and give me discernment on when to rest and when I do rest, to rest in Him.
Yeah, so I don’t need a lake.
I don’t need beautiful mountains and volcanos.
I don’t need kayaks, waterfalls, and restaurants.
I need the beautiful smiles from tickles on the trampoline.
I need the goodnight kiss after bedtime hymns.
I need laughs and conversations with the nannies, who are now friends.
I need the high five after helping completing a school assignment.
I just need God’s children to be happy.
To be happy with them.
They want to be loved.
And I want to be loved by them.
I am loved by them.
And by Him.
I will rejoice and be glad in that.
Yeah, Guatemala was a good month. Now, it’s time to rest, eat some food other than rice and beans and get ready for next month’s adventure.
