The last 3 months in Guatemala have been something so hard to put into words. But this is it!
ministry :
We spent 3 months in a small village called Llano, or Los Encinos. At first, ministry was really hard because no team had ever been there before. But we started to get to know the families one by one. We learned their names, heard their stories, and spoke of God and his goodness that never fades. The kids decided to keep coming to English class and soon we had weekly soccer games with them, each game betting the loser buys a liter of coke for everyone to share. We knew good and well that we would lose, but what’s 15Q ($2) a week for a bunch of time and lifelong friendships.
We painted a mural and had a paint fight at the same time. Joy and freedom filled the air. The laugher and giggles and smiles made me think of heaven. This has got to be one of my favorite memories ever. We held a women’s event for all our friends, and spoke the Truth God has been putting on our hearts for months.
I won’t forget the days sitting on the concrete steps of the one room schoolhouse with my team, talking about the enneagram or our God-sized dreams. I won’t forget the boys in my English class All the endless days speaking broken Spanish trying to teach vocabulary words and verbs are just sweet memories now. Who knew 6 little 11 year old kids would grow your heart so much in just 12 weeks?
We said goodbye to everyone on Wednesday, and cried lots and LOTS of tears. Among the tears were also many hugs, many “the quiero”s (“I love you”s), and a lot of “I hope I see you again”s. One of the retired pastors in the village, whose family we have spent a lot of time with, told us very sincerely and very sweetly, “If I don’t see you again, I’ll see you in heaven.” Can you imagine that reunion??
Los Encinos became family and it broke my heart to leave.
adventure :
The past 3 months were full of adventures I’ve only dreamed of.
I woke up on a black sand beach on the pacific coast and watched one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen. I roasted marshmallows on an active volcano and rode horses around it with all my bestfriends. I hiked a 14,000 ft tall volcano to watch one of the most active volcanoes in Central America erupt big billowing clouds of black smoke and lava. There were days that I laid in a field eating leftover pie for my friends birthday. Nights when we sat outside during dinner and watched countless sunsets, watching the skies turn pastel purples and sometimes bright orange if God’s feeling’ real wild that night. I’ve ran around the streets of Antigua at night, in awe under the lights of the park waiting in anticipation to grab mcflurries and nuggets as a snack. We have had finger painting parties in our kitchen, knowing that whatever we create is actually a masterpiece. I’ve jumped cliff jumped into lakes, really hoping I wouldn’t get a parasite from accidentally swallowing water. I’ve worshipped God in courtyards, on our front patio, and in our living room. I’ve stood in awe and wonder on top of mountains, rooftops, and volcanoes, mesmerized by God’s artwork.
my heart :
These 3 months have changed the foundation that I am building the rest of my life on. I’ve told a lot of people God was doing “heart work” and really that’s what is it. I’ve learned that for me, everything is connected to my heart. By God doing what I called heart work, I realize what he was really doing is groundwork. He’s changing my foundation and redoing the groundwork to build the rest of my life on. A strong foundation.
It is hard to truly put into words everything that has happened in 3 months.
But God started with my identity. He changed how I defined myself and where my worth came from. Instead of being defined my the things I had done or currently do or by the people I am with, he calls he a Daughter of a King. That’s my identity. Instead of finding my worth in other people, relationships, and how people treat me, I find my worth in knowing that I am loved and worthy, simply because I am a daughter in the kingdom. Everything builds on identity. everything.
I came to know Jesus as more than someone in a story. I came to know God more than someone in the sky who rules over everything with either approval or disapproval. Jesus is a friend— who walks through every storm by your side, never leaving or making you feel less. He’s a savior— loving you so deeply, too deep to actually fathom, that he died for you. He’s a brother— fighting for you, every single day. God is the best father you can even imagine. He delights in us. He laughs and mourns and cries and dances with us. He loves being loved by us, and He loves pouring blessings over our heads like waterfalls. He loves us so much that there is no way he will leave us where we are at.
Freedom is something so deep. It’s not the freedom to do anything you want just because you want to. Its freedom in your soul. Freedom so deeply rooted in your heart. The world will try to chain you to the ground, without you even knowing. But the chains are gone and we have the ability to sour in the skies like eagles. Freedom isn’t chased, it’s placed sweetly in your hands and once you have it, there is no turning back! EVER! Forever I’m FREE! Forever you are free.
Awe and wonder and dreaming have flooded my soul. Life is such a work of art—a blank canvas— and it’s just waiting for you to pick up your paintbrush and put your God-sized dreams, no matter how big or small, on the canvas.
Last night, we stood in a courtyard with big yellow strung lights over our heads. Our toes dug into the grass, the cool air filling our lungs. And we worshipped God with everything in our hearts and souls. An older couple wandered in after the 3rd song and told us, “We were in our room and heard angels singing. Young voices singing songs of praise, in English! We had to come find it.” Soon, more people came into the courtyard-tourists, local police officers— and stood in God’s presence with us. We prayed with each other, laughed at the fact we thought we could put God in a box, and lifted each other up. My heart was filled to the very top. I’m going to be singing these praises at the top of my lungs for the rest of my life.
There is no going back from here. My life will never be the same. Man, my life really will never be the same.
-haven
