After about two days of travel my squad and I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand about two weeks ago. We rested and caught up to the 12 hour time difference and then my team and I headed to Ratchaburi, Thailand for the next three months. I am safe and loving what the Lord has for us here.
But this blog is not about Thailand. A lot happened in Guatemala my three months there that I am going to attempt to share with you all! Excuse all my word vomit!
The last month of Guatemala came and went in a blink of an eye. God really rocked my world in this last month. He broke me down several times to rebuild me stronger. I volunteered at a hospital in the Cerebral Palsy wing where I was able to see more of the beloved children of God. Are we not all equal in Christ? This question always ran through my mind as I witnessed these children’s life in the hospital. Every day the same routine happened in the same order. But when we first started going I was thinking about how we are a gift to them but God showed me how they were a gift to me. They are just as treasured as I am to the Kingdom. They brought laughter, joy, and truth into my life that month I was involved in their life. Their life is very different but whose life is normal.
The last month we had our soccer tournament finale! There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears that went into the planning of the tournament but every moment of hardship was worth the joy and salvation the Lord blessed us with in the end. Through the cerebral palsy hospital and the tournament we made wonderful friends from several different backgrounds. We invited them to our Wednesday night Worship and Friday night Bible study where we were blessed to witness three of them give their life to follow Jesus. One Wednesday night we had friends from Japan, Germany, and Guatemala in one room! A lot of languages! One of my dear friends, Pamela would always treat us with special little gifts and Guatemalan food. Pam became a big part of my heart in such a short time. She is a beautiful soul that loves deeply and laughs often. Often times she would bust out her dance moves for us which were the best I’ve ever seen! Being a part of the soccer tournament was another great gift from God in Guatemala.
Every Wednesday my team and I would do what we call an ATL (Ask The Lord). We spend time in prayer and ask the Spirit to lead us where He wants us to be. Some times this ended in sitting in central park with blank stares but sometimes this ended in meeting people like our friend, Victor. One Wednesday we decided to go hang out at Cafe that ministers to the homeless in Antigua. They welcome in anybody to join them with free coffee and a safe place for good conversation and good friendship. The cafe was closed when we went however Victor and Caesar were outside and greeted us with big smiles. We spent quite some time getting to know their lives and praying blessings over them for work, health, and comfort. Several times we visited Victor again on the same street with the same happy greeting. His heart was so full with a gentle Spirit even though his life was a broken place. He was a great reminder to me that we are rich in faith as Chosen ones no matter the state we are to the world. I will never forget his big hugs.
Through our different ministries, living in a Christian community, and experiencing a new world the Lord keeps revealing more of His truth and placing surrender on my heart. He keeps asking for more and more of my life to surrender for His glory. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. I am reminded that He takes care of me, of us. And He loves to love us but in order to feel His care and love we have to surrender these earthly desires and things of the flesh. I studied Romans in my quiet time for awhile and in Chapter 8 verse 6 it says “to set the mind on the flesh is Death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is Life.” I have been growing in seeking His Presence and seeking His approval above all else. To see myself through the eyes of Jesus and be content in the treasure I am to Him. Are we not all treasures of our King?
My squad spent the last week in Guatemala at Lake Atitlan to rest and debrief from the last three months. It was there where the Lord broke down chains of the past and set freedom into my heart and soul. I was overwhelmed leaving Guatemala and the special friends I had made. My heart was heavy with restlessness. My focus was else where. Hiding things from my team, hiding things from God, and hiding things from myself. The first day the Lord revealed to me more about my flaws in the flesh. For a big part of my life I have tried to be strong and able to take on burdens too great for me. But I am weak in this fallen world. Through surrendering my heart and desires to Him I know now that when I am weak in His Presence, He will give me strength in the Spirit. In Psalms it says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you.” With this strength I was able to be vulnerable with my team and set free from secrecy and filled with an abundance of peace. His abundance of beauty, love, peace, and gifts this week is unforgettable. During our worship sessions, we sang “It Is Well With My Soul” several times throughout the months and I finally could sing with truth that it is well with my soul. Guatemala is very special and dear to my heart. It has been one hell of a journey.
There were some very special and exciting memories made in Guatemala. So heres a fun list of what I have experienced or learned:
-Chicken buses are a whole new world inside containing 100 or more people packed into a pimped out school bus.
-I decided to love coffee and also decided to get it every day.
-To watch Netlfix outside of America, you must hack into a US IBP address and then four girls can huddle around a laptop and watch the new Scandal.
-There is a poop scale. and People do poop themselves.
-You can either stay home or take a rain jacket because it will rain. Every day.
-People say “like” a lot and then you start to say “like” a lot.
-Hiking an active volcano in the pouring rain/ hail and roasting marshmallows over lava is actually super cool.
-Thanksgiving in Guate is almost better than in America
-I found I am really good at teaching Guatemalans inappropriate sayings like “Im fix in to pop a cap in your butt”
-Random dance parties are a real thing and everyone should try them
-We won a women’s Guatemalan soccer tournament….because of forfeits but still we got a trophy.
-Laundry on the race is either smelly or super smelly.
-Black sand beaches are so much better..and hotter. Also I played volleyball on the beach just like in the movies.
-Dia de los Muertos and Halloween are like a carnival at grave sights including giant kites, churros, and pizza
-A house talent show is the best kind of entertainment.
-Drivers are crazy and there are no road rules.
-The vender ladies do not like no for an answer…so you usually end up with some kind of souvenir.
-Being sick overseas is a very difficult situation.
-There are so many stray dogs you start to smell like one. If anyone is looking for a dog have no fear.
-The sunsets here are like no other
-All 16 girls share a closet together
-Cobblestone is not of the Lord.
-My name is very difficult for Guatemalans therefore you can now call me Maquey.
Thank you for your support and pray for my team and I these next three months that we can create even more memories in Thailand! Remember God is full of goodness and joy! Adios, Dios the bendiga!
