My time on the overseas mission field is quickly coming to an end, for now. 19 countries in 21 months. I’ve experienced more than I ever could have imagined.
As I’m reflecting, I am so thankful for such a creative God.
I’ve tasted and seen the pure goodness of the Lord. He has used this time to draw me to himself into a more deep and intimate relationship than I ever knew was possible. He has walked me on a journey of understanding the true weight of the gospel, fully understanding the Father’s love, deeply loving others and devoting myself to Him in all of life’s ups and downs. He has met me in every single struggle and proven his strength in my weakness.
Guatemala.
I’ve never been to a place that I wasn’t content with leaving, until now. It’s an interesting limbo of emotions as I’m so excited to be home and what the Lord has for this next season and being filled with sadness at the thought of having to say goodbye. Despite the language barrier and my sad attempts at Spanish which have failed me in more than one horribly embarrassing situation, this place has felt like home.
The Lord is working mightily here. He has knit together an amazing long-term missionary team who is so unified in furthering His kingdom. Seriously, I’ve never seen a more steadfast bunch.
My three teams and I have been doing ministry in different villages. We’ve been teaching English, sports, house visits, and bible studies. Believe it or not, sports is my favorite.
Testimonies-
My two co-leaders and I were in an Uber. We saw a man get hit by a car in the lane next to us. Our driver graciously allowed us to pray over the man and wait for an ambulance. It was a hit an run. The man was in really bad shape. As we continued to pray, he regained consciousness and movement. I don’t believe that was by chance. He was taken to the hospital. I didn’t think he was going to make it. The next morning we went to visit. He had left the hospital that morning before we got there. He WALKED OUT of the hospital. I believe the Lord had us there to intercede for a reason and that a powerful testimony will come out of this.
Before we went into the hospital, we asked the Lord for favor. A man in Administration of the hospital gave us permission to visit a ward full of sick women and children. We got to pray, share the gospel and encourage many people that day.
The Lord can take our very limited plans and completely shift them for His glory. All we have to do is be obedient to the doors he opens for us.
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One of my teams and I visited a village that none of us had been to previously. We prayed before we started walking, and one girl got a vision of a very specific house she felt we needed to visit. We walked until we found it.
It’s always interesting knocking on a strangers door like that. They welcomed us in. A brother and two sisters.
We asked for parts of their story and shared different parts of ours. They wondered what was different about us. We shared with them about Jesus, and they all three accepted Christ.
The team was able to visit the family again to encourage them and take a bible.
Man, it’s amazing what the Lord allows us to experience when we listen to his voice.
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One of my teams and I visited a woman who had been hit by a bus. She had suffered extensive injuries and had only been home from the hospital a few days. She had been getting out of bed to sit in a chair every day, but explained that she did not do that on days she knew visitors were coming. When asked how she knew we were coming, she explained how the Lord had told her.
We prayed healing and worshiped with her, and she was able to stand and walk with ease to her sister. She cried tears of joy and praise.
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Ya’ll we serve an God who moves in hearts, minds and physical bodies to show his power and might. All ways of showing us how desperately we need his saving grace.
He is doing a great work here in Guatemala and it has been such a blessing that He has allowed me to experience it.
Prayer requests-
Protection
Peace
Trust in this season of transition
No matter the circumstance, my eyes would be fixed on Him
That I would cling to the gospel and have a boldness to share it
No matter my physical location, that I would be constantly aware of the mission field surrounding me
THANK YOU for all of your support, encouragement and love over the past couple years.
