The last thing my grandmother, Mom Mom, said to me before I left the country was actually a threat. She was threatening me to blog as often as I could. I can’t say what she said because my mother would not be pleased to read it in my blog. SO since my life is on the line here, and my mom has been texting me telling me to blog, I figured I’d give it a shot.
What’s it like? Where are you living? How is living in community? Will you tell me about your ministry? These are a few of the questions I get all the time from friends and family.
Guatemala City, Guatemala is WONDERFUL. The weather is beautiful, the city is beautiful, and the people are beautiful! It was hard at first to be here, I think because of culture shock, but I am 100% in love now!
I am living in a house in zone eleven with six amazing women, and to our surprise when we arrived, a young man named DJ. DJ pretends to be super annoyed by us all the time but in reality he secretly loves us(and we really love him). Come on, what man wouldn’t like to live with seven beautiful women? Living in community is hard. I roll my eyes a lot and huff and puff when I’m super annoyed, but honestly it has been VERY rewarding to me. I love all of these girls with my whole heart, and the sisterhood and the bonds that are being formed under this roof are beyond incredible. These girls challenge me and encourage me everyday in my walk with Christ. I am forever grateful for them.
I work in two different ministries. I work with young children who live in the Bus Terminals and I work with street youth. Working with the children is AMAZING. I love these little babies so much. They are working away at my heart way more than I could ever work in theirs. My team and I plan bible studies and then we get to teach them to the kids. The street youth we work with are also amazing. They are homeless and most of them are wasting away on drugs. When we start walking down the street to where they all hang out, their smiles and their excitement to see us is PRICELESS. It makes their day just to sit with them and hangout. I am basically a pro now at uno. I think I’ve played 100 games now with my favorite boy, Harrison. Just to sit down and love on these boys and share God’s love with them is awesome and so empowering. We are also painting and remodeling a small building called The Spark. We are turning The Spark into a coffee shop where we will host bible studies and hangouts for the street youth. I am the most excited for this one because I feel like this will actually make a HUGE difference in these boys’ lives.
God is working away at my heart and the spiritual growth I am experiencing here is INSANE. Mrs. Shannon Britton has always told me, “Don’t be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone” and she’s right because being outside of your comfort zone is super rewarding to yourself and everyone around you.
Mom Mom, I promise I will blog as often as I can. I miss you and love you all! Please keep my team and I in your prayers!
Love,
Shelbie
