This is my friend Logan. He is one of my favorite people I’ve met- in Guatemala, on the race… in general. This picture was taken by Julia, who saw him passing down a street in Antigua in his iconic red pick up truck (which happens to have a Kentucky license plate). We’ve made a lot of memories with him and this big red pick up truck.
My team and I met Logan because he has been my ministry host for three months. He has an English school in Chimlatenango, and my team has been working with him and his teachers there. For our first two weeks of Guatemala, we spent our mornings helping the teachers prepare for their school year by decorating their classroom and conversing with them in English to better equip them in teaching it. For these first two weeks we spent our afternoons in the countryside of Chimal, where we were working to build bunk beds. The bunk beds are for teams of construction workers coming from the states to break ground and build a new school for Logan to give greater opportunities to more children. On these afternoons, we’d drive out to the countryside, passing fields and volcanoes, 5 of my teammates in the bed of the truck and 4 inside with all the windows down.
It was during these drives that we really got to know Logan. On one of these drives, he asked me to describe everyone on my team with one word. I think now you know my inspiration for the blog “Abundance”. He shared his story with us- how he grew up in a children’s home, moved to the states in his early teens, and lived there until his early twenties, which is how he speaks English fluently. He had a really good job traveling around to different cities, but he always knew he’d come back to Guatemala. He came back about eight years ago to be a volunteer at the home he grew up in. After a few trips back and forth between Guatemala and the states, Logan stayed in Guatemala. He continued to build relationships and connections, he continued to live his life with others before himself, and that’s how he is where he is today- an influential contact for Adventures in Missions, head of an English school, friend to all, husband to a beautiful wife and father to a joyful baby boy.
On our last day at the school, I spoke about Logan in front of all the staff and the children, thanking him for our time together and the teacher and friend he has been to us. I knew that out of his humility I probably embarrassed him by talking about him, but who he is is worthy of recognition and appreciation. I want to share all of that again here.
For starters, Logan is a really good teacher. I had never built anything before, but I helped in building the bunk beds. I did more than just hold the pieces together for other people- I used a power-tool myself! I had never used a power-tool before, and I really didn’t plan to. Logan persistently encouraged me, and when I failed, he encouraged me to try again. Because of his kindness, I did not feel shame for not knowing how to do it or not doing it well. When I did get it, I felt so proud. And I believe that’s why he was so insistent on me trying, because Logan fights for the true success of people being empowered, not just success that looks good. Logan is a teacher that believes there’s no shame in not knowing something you’ve never been taught, and he wants to teach you for your own benefit and success.
Logan celebrates people really well. There are many times he would do little things for us, like buy us a traditional Guatemalan slushy or treat us to a coke and a bag of chips after our afternoons building beds, but my favorite thing he did like this happened on my birthday. He had found out that I really liked Pollo Campero (a popular chain restaurant here centered around different kinds of chicken dishes). And so on my birthday, he took my team and I in his red pick up truck to Pollo Campero, where we all sat down and ate fried chicken like a family. It was amazing. There are videos of me literally freaking out in joy the entire time because I was so happy. My birthday is the day after Christmas, and so sometimes it doesn’t feel so special, but this year it was indeed the best birthday I’ve ever had, and Logan being there is a huge part of that. After that, we drove on back roads home and talked about God and the people we see Him in.
Speaking of that, Logan reminds me so much of Jesus. Maybe it’s because he’s 33 and he has enough skill to pass for a carpenter, or maybe it’s because there is so much love and willingness to sacrifice for others in his every day life. Logan seems to spend each day thinking only of other people and how to serve them. He has a very lighthearted sense of humor, an easygoing personality, and is extremely kind. Equally, he is incredibly bold and full of authority. He is the designated boss to put someone in their place and still the eager father that wants to tell everyone about his son Luca’s first laugh attack or new tooth. Logan has the likeness of a brother, friend, and father.
I am so thankful to have worked with him for the last three months. My team and I have been blessed by his generosity and his intentionality to serve us so well. He once told us that our time here has been invaluable, and we feel the same about our friendship with him.
Logan, thank you for going out of your way to invite us into what you do and who you are. You have been more than a ministry host, from the beginning you invited us in to be your family, to be treated as your friends, sisters, daughters. Wow, thank you.
We are grateful for your dedication to give children the best opportunities that they can have. We are changed by your attitude to treat everyone you meet with respect and equality. We are inspired by you living your life with passion and purpose to create a better world.
A story to end-
This picture was taken on a day that four of my teammates had gone to hike a volcano, and five of us stayed home. Logan picked the five of us up around noon for a day that he had planned for us. We didn’t know where he was taking us, and so the whole way there we made a scene of trying to guess. We didn’t really care, we could have gone anywhere, we just enjoyed getting to scream and laugh in the car with our friends. We finally pulled up to a tin gate and got out of the car, where Logan knocked. We waited, and a woman opened the door. Behind her, coffee beans lay drying in the sun. She smiled hi to Logan and invited us in, and we met her husband. The husband’s name is Freddy, and his son was able to tell us in English about his family and what they do. Logan had brought us to meet a family who’s livelihood is growing and harvesting coffee beans! We sat in their house, drinking their organic coffee in classy mugs, getting to know them and their heart and mission behind what they do- it’s more to them than just a way to make money. It was surreal to be immersed in things I’m passionate about: ethics and hard work, family and friends, and of course, coffee. After about an hour and a half, Logan took us to a Mediterranean restaurant and treated us to lunch. We then walked to a bakery for warm chocolate croissants, and that’s where this picture was taken.
Days are like that with Logan. Full of rich community, laughter, surprise and celebration, ending with a story to tell to bring joy and perspective to somebody else.
Logan, thank you again for everything. More than anything, I am grateful that it has not been a goodbye, but a see you later. I’ll see you again, later. Maybe one day you’ll get a call from me to pick me up in your pick up truck from the airport in Guatemala City, and we can go again to Pollo Campero, and I can visit your new school on the outside of Chimaltenango.
We’ll miss you, friend.
