Life has been flying by so much faster then I would like it to. Can’t believe I’m On month six of my trip. Unreal. Thanks to everyone who supported me through everything in my life to get me to this point as well as you who have donated to my trip.
Ministry here in Guatemala has been awesome. People here address me as Teacher. I’ve never seen myself being a teacher before mainly because I’m such a slow learner. I used to be in the slow math class and the only thing I’ve ever been really good in was English. My grades have never been great. Also I have the biggest fear of public speaking in the world. There’s been so many times I’ve frozen talking in front of people. There’s even been times I’ve prospered but since I’m such a one on one person it’s so hard for me to connect with people in big groups. But even as draining as it is I have found much joy in teaching these kids. There drive to learn is crystal clear. From the first day of our orientation I saw how interested the parents were in there children’s futures. Most kids here don’t get the opportunity for more learning. English is one of the hardest languages to learn and the schools here requires you to have background on the language before you even take the classes. Tell me how that works? Sounds so backwards right? It’s sad. But I’ve been overjoyed with the privilege of growing closer to these kiddos and watching them get better and improve. I’ve seen many of there home life situations and they are not so great. A week ago we went to build houses and the original house that was there was made of wood and concrete. The family lived in mainly one room the other room was for cooking. This seems to be the situation for many of the family’s here. By them knowing English it opens up another world of opportunity for their family’s. Because here family is everything. That’s where we have something to learn as a country back in America. That the love and care we have for our family’s is EVERYTHING along with god being at the top of that priority list. And that’s where they have taught me a lot as well. I’ve seen how much we waste in our everyday life with resources and time. As well as even when I thought I was doing a lot back at home. I volunteered at a church worked and hung with friends. But I now see how much more I could be doing and how much more god has had I store for me. Showing me how I could be using me time back at home and opening my eyes to who really needs it. As well as how he has let troubles in my life come and why. Why parts of my home life have been so hard. Why I’ve been so kind and patient all these years with people who didn’t deserve it. It’s all been part of a bigger picture a bigger dream something that’s far bigger then all of us but at the same time involves all of us in a certain way. When god calls we just have to pick up the phone.
We teach at two schools. One at our Aim base and one called “Loving Arms”. Loving Arms has many programs. One of the biggest ones sponsors kids who don’t have enough money for school originally. We all teach in different class rooms some water plants and our making a garden and some have put together a library. I decided to take on helping teach the preschoolers. Let me tell ya we go Wednesday and Friday are my most favorite and draining days of the week. Those kids run circles around me. Wether that be my head doing a full 360 trying to answer everyone’s questions I hardly understand or them literally dragging me around the complex and climbing on me like a jungle gym.Or just using me as a bench when I try to take my break. Either way these kids are so innocent and sweet. I get greeted with 900 hugs throughout the day along with them constantly asking questions working to become smarter. It’s funny because you don’t expect them to be as in tune with what your trying to teach or how they pick up on things but they shock you. Whenever we teach about god or Jesus most of them can’t believe there’s someone in the world who loves them that much. And has so much more in-store for them. That somebody wants to change there life’s so much. And there only in preschool. 4 and 5 year olds. There world is much tougher and Colder then mine. It’s a blessing to be able to invest in their future. I’m so glad we get to share gods warmth with them. I’ve seen why god has blessed me with so much patience. He new I was needed here. There were times I almost hated how I was wired. Why some of my circumstances needed me to be more of a person than I was in that moment. Once again gods always got nothing but the biggest plans for your future. I’m living some of my wildest dreams and it’s surreal. Remain obedient to what he calls you to even if it seems impossible. Also please pray some of these pray requests that the kids have given me to pray for them.
-English to improve
-For prospering in their family
-For anyone in need
-For bright futures
This one broke my heart on how sweet they are.
-For us as well
