A Day in the Life of Antigua:
I arrived in Antigua 6 days ago and met up with my team, who had already been there for 5 days by that time. As soon as I got through customs with my broken Spanish, I stepped into another world. A world of hard working people who were desperate to get that next shuttle ride so they could get paid. As I waited in the airport cafe for my ride, I looked around and people watched, trying to understand conversations and cultures. Then, my people had arrived. It was official – I had just begun my World Race.
On the way to my host home, my host and I talked loads and loads about music, which is when I discovered I had the opportunity to TEACH MUSIC. Ooooo I was so excited. I was hoping for the opportunity to work with kiddos and inspire them to learn this universal language. I was told I would be teaching voice but little did I know it would actually be teaching guitar, which we can chat more about later in this blog.
When I arrived at my host home, it was dark and I had no idea what my surroundings were. When I woke up, I forgot where I was, then took a deep breath and whispered “I’m in Guatemala. I’m on the World Race.” I stepped outside and looked wide-eyed into the distance. I was literally surrounded by volcanoes. One was even active and billowing a bit of smoke. The sunrise was blue with the most fluffy white clouds. I stepped into another universe. Here was my new life, lying in front of me. The sunset that night was pink and yellow, with bursts of color contributing and accenting the lines and ridges of the volcanoes. I have really come to understand how incredible of an artist God truly is.
Our Ministries
The first week was a tough adjustment. I felt lost all the time, had no idea what the schedule was, and had to humble myself and ask several questions. My team has been extremely patient with me, riding on the chicken bus (we call it that because they squeeze 120 people in there like a chicken coop), guiding me in Antigua’s culture, and warning me not to drink the water (no parasites yet, woohoo!).
On Tuesday, I began my first day of teaching music. I was told I would be teaching choir, but the kids were more interested in guitar. Boy howdy, I didn’t think that would happen. I grew up in a family of talented guitarists and I have never been one of them, so I’ve been very “out of my element.” It has been a humbling experience, challenging and pushing me to be confident in the abilities I do have and expanding on them. God is already making me step outside of my normal comfort zones, which is so good for me! Shout out to Legacy Ministries, because you guys really gave me the grounds to be able to do this ministry. Also, I am teaching them “I Am a Friend of God” in Spanish, which is “Soy Un Amigo de Dios.” They have been learning the guitar chords and singing the harmonies with the whole song. The language barrier has been very interested and Google translate is a great tool, but not a very accurate one. Sometimes I feel like I’m playing charades. But the people love it and if you get a laugh out of them, so they have been more apt to pay attention. They are helping me with my Spanish, and I am improving quite a bit! Praise the Lord I took Spanish classes in college, they have helped a lot!
We have also been working with their youth group missionaries by selling donuts in the streets to raise money for their missions trip to Nicaragua. My teammates have been doing teaching Zumba and visiting people in their homes to pray with them. One is getting ready to begin painting a mural and I cannot wait to see the outcome!
What I Have Learned So Far
Through everything this week, God has seriously been working in my heart. He keeps reminding me that I can no longer do this alone. I wasn’t meant to live my life so fiercely independent, that nobody else can offer help. I am struggling with the walls of my heart but the Lord has been talking to me quite a bit lately, asking me to be more open to tearing them down. He continues to remind me I am a daughter of the King and has surrounded me with a group of women that want to pray for me and help me through this struggle.
This morning, He asked me to look at the clouds that were covering the active lava volcano.
“See those clouds?” He asked me.
“Mary Beth, just as you see the clouds over the volcano that are keeping you from experiencing it’s fire, that is what has happened to your heart. I created your heart with a distinctive fire. Let me see it, let others experience it to encounter it’s beauty.”
As I watched the clouds hanging over the volcano, as still as they could be, I asked the Lord to clear the clouds. All of a sudden, they began to move, at a relatively fast pace.
“Ask again.” The Lord was up to something.
I whispered for the clouds to move and dissipate, remembering the Bible is very clear that we can move mountains in Jesus name, so why not a cloud?
Ya’ll, the cloud not only moved, but dissipated at the sound of a whisper. The whisper of the Holy Spirit moving. This is not a joke or a mirage. The Lord reminded me of the authority I have over Satan today, the authority I have over the walls of my heart. He reminded me to ask in His name to tear them down. We are working together and I know he is patiently waiting for me to submit to His freedom.
So far, so good! I’ve learned so much in a week. I’m excited to see what’s in store this coming semana. Slowly but surely, it’s sinking in that I am not coming home, but finding new places to call home around the world. The Lord didn’t have to bless me by picking me to do the Race, but by golly He is so good and He knew what I needed. Don’t forget He knows what you need, too.
Love,
Maria Isabel
(Mary Beth in Spanish. Most people here do not understand my English name or pronounce it correctly.)
