PVT – Antigua Guatemala 2018
It’s hard to express everything that happened in such a short period of time. I thought about this as we made our trek back to Virginia and struggled with it for many days. I have to say it wasn’t easy getting to PVT. I, my body came under attack right before the trip and I had to get reassurance from my doctor that I was cleared for travel. I went with no expectations but was hopeful that my daughter Hannah and I would be able to pray over one of the racers. You see the Lord placed this racer in my path and in my heart the day of launch and during the process of the race I was able to get to know her through her blogs. As I continued to pray for her the Lord showed me pieces of the puzzle but the last piece wasn’t revealed until her mom shared during a break out session. The next morning I was able to share with her parents what the Lord had shown me and that evening after everything was over, we got together in a group and shared and prayed for each other. It was true fellowship, it was beautiful. You see the Lord had given this racer a word, a promise and the Lord was fulfilling his Word, His Promise to Her.
We loved every minute of PVT. It was amazing to minister a long side our daughter Hannah, her team mates and their parents. I can say there was an immediate bond between parents, we had a lot in common, we were all on the same race. During our ministry time we split into four groups. Our 1st day we went to a village about 20minutes out where we partnered with another ministry that is already workingin that area. Our ministry for the day was home visits which included fellowshipping with the family members, playing with the kids, praying for them and installing a water filtration system and training them on how to use it and how to maintain it so it can last for 10years. The mom and grandma were home but the father and grandfather were out working in the river which is filled with sewage. Their job was to collect sand from the river so it can be used to make cement.
On our 2nd home visit as we entered the family’s yard, we notice an elderly gentleman swinging an ax and cutting wood. As our team entered the home my husband stayed outside with one of the translators and asked the gentleman if he could cut the wood for him. The gentleman agreed and sat down on a log while my husband labored. A couple of minutes went by and I went outside to see what he was doing. I asked our translator to ask the gentleman if I could pray for him. He eagerly jumped up and said yes. He was 87 years old and he had been asking the Lord for healing and it was a blessing for him that an outsider would come and pray over him. The 1st thing our translator said was that he was having hearing problems. So as I walked towards him I cupped my hands over his ears and looked at my husband as I was fighting back my tears. I asked the Lord to open up is ears and He did. He could hear clearly and was talking so quickly to our translator that he couldn’t keep up with translating. I continued to pray for other ailments such as his foot that had an infection, his lower back and his clarity of mind. When I could get a word in, I told this gentleman that the Lord loves him and He cares deeply for him and He heard his prayers. Later that day when we returned to our hostel we heard other praise reports of healings. What a blessing, not only for us to see but for what God is doing in these villages. Tangible things are happening, and if you have eyes to see, you will see. It’s all about people, it’s all about love.
Our 2nd full day in Antigua was Sunday so it was our off day. So, we decided to go horseback riding up and into a volcano. Yes, I am not a brave soul but I did it. It was actually a lot of fun, a little freaky and physically painful at times. I didn’t cry but I did laugh a lot – Let’s just say most of my muscles hurt from the steep downhill 45 minute horseback ride.
Day 3 it was VBS Day. Today we went into another village and hosted a VBS in a school. Our theme was Daniel & The Lion’s Den. We played soccer with the kids, had a skit for them, craft projects and made balloon animals. It was a fun day seeing the parentsjump into ministry. Some of them are quite talented.
Day 4 we went back into the original village and separated into 2 teams. One of the most challenging aspects of our ministry at this site is walking up and down the steep mountains. I playfully said to our ministry leader, I am waiting for my UBER ride to pick me up. J He laughed but about 15 minutes later and after the other team had left I heard, Ok, pile into the cars we are going to take you up the mountain. YAHOO – Halleluiah I said, It’s my UBER Ride J. And off we went on our ministry for the day which was home visits and installing stoves. I have to say the Guatemalan’s are beautiful, lovely people. They are welcoming and they appreciate how the Lord is providing for them.
At our 1st home we met a mom and her twins, a boy and girl probably around 12 years old and a gentleman that will soon be her husband and who has been a good father to her children. You can see how the Lord has honored him as he honors the Lord. Before we left and as a thank you to our team, they purchase a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi and cups to thank us. In the US that might be a nice gesture but in their environment that was a really big deal.
At our 2nd home the father was not there but the momand her son and 3 little girls. These little girls literally laughed, giggled, skipped and hopped for the hour that we were there. They stole our hearts. Before we left the mother asked for prayer for her husband because he had been told that it was his last day of work. The men wanting to work and trying to find jobs to provide for their families seemed to be the common prayer request.
Our last evening of ministry was very special. It was a time that the parents can minister to their racer and the racer can minister to their parents. It was a time of laughing it was a time of crying, good crying. It was a special time.
Powerful things happened in those 5 days, new friendships, words of encouragement, a very powerful time of bonding. We cried together, we laughed together, we ministered together and we broke bread together as we listed to our racers tell stories about their hardships and their victories and about how God is working in and through their lives.
So Thank you Hannah for inviting us to PVT, Thank you to Pat and Gordon and Deon and to the Base Team in Guatemala for speaking into us and blessing us.
Romans 10:15
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Natalie
{Blessed to be Hannah’s Mom}
