The past week of ministry was truly remarkable. So here is a little play by play for what exactly went down this past week.
Monday – Usually the team walks down the road from our base to the program “Loving Arms” where Guatemalan children are given the ability to have an education and learn English. The program also provides for each supported child’s family through donations of animals,meals, jobs, and even homes at times. Truly, each child is given the opportunity to end generations of poverty through language and as a team we get to walk by them every day. However, I was coming off a weekend from the beaches of Guatemala that turned unfortunate in some sense. We believe it might have been sun poisoning but I was sick most of Sunday and pretty weak on Monday. But as I walked through the sand with each step rolling my stomach up and down, I was reminded of Jesus. I imagined the sandals of Jesus trudging through the sand hills and dunes of the desert. The determination and confidence of each answer He gave in response to temptation. I was able to praise Him for being able to be sick in Guatemala, on the beach, sleeping under palm trees starlight canopy (really…I know), and being surrounded by the care of friends. I was thankful and all of it counted as a consequence of the Gospel.
Tuesday – Usually the team goes to San Luis and as some teach English from three to five, others pray for the town of San Luis, pray for people passing on the street, play soccer with kids on the dirt field, and listen to those who need just want to be heard. A day of ministry that is truly dependent on where the Lord leads our feet. However, we were able to FaceTime our World Race Coach, Tim. It was a sweet time of being poured into by an old friend and also being stirred up for adventure. There is so much wisedom in being under the experience and knowledge of those who have lived and Tim, Tim has lived. After that, we met up with our ministry contact Gabe. He then told us that today we would be in the town of Parromos, not San Luis, and would be with Team Huzzah for ministry. So we left to meet up the ladies and Gabe began to separate us into groups of three. Mind you, there are only about three or four strong English speakers and our team had none. My two years of high school Spanish has come in handy but didn’t leave me with the capability of conversation. Nevertheless, God invites us into His ministry and capitalizes on our weakness. So my teammate Blake Sellers, squademate Michelle Moxley, and myself left to hear from God and speak to those who needed it. After walking around corners of the town for about fifteen minutes, the Lord allowed us to pass one of Michelle’s English students. The girl ran up to Michelle and greeted her with a hug. We were able to pray for her mother and nearby friend. After that, we walked around for the next hour and a half and prayed for a bakery employee, a young man on a corner, and an old man with mixed language and intention. What God showed me was that even in our weakness of language, He used what we had to bring the Gospel into their lives. We prayed over their lives with no assurance they understood anything we were saying. Results are not our end, obedience is, thank God. Later that night we were able to drive to Antigua (the “Beverly Hills” of Guatemala as coined by a local) and play soccer. I was able to give a message on Jesus being our living Hope (which I will post soon).
Wednesday – Usually the team repeats our same objects as that of Tuesday, to teach English in San Luis and follow the Lord. But on Wednesdays, we have a bible study. It is in the home/hotel of a woman named Asuzana, who the Lord is bringing redemption and restitution to her family. Asuzana is a widow who is raising her young son without a father and juggling the struggles of family and business. In all of this, the Lord has placed our group to speak life into their lives. He has given us the opportunity to preach the Gospel every Wednesday in a home that struggles. My teammate Noah was able to teach out of John 1 and absolutely crushed it. As we share and continue to invest in the town of San Luis, we are hoping to leave a ministry for the next arriving team. God can and will use your presence to drive out the darkness that wishes to exist in shadows of despair. We are called to preach the Gospel of Love and Hope and Repentance, which demands every follower to move each and every day from their sedentary* position.
Thursday – Activation day. Today, all of the guys on the team split up to go into the ministry town of the ladies. Both Noah and I tang team with team Huzzah in Parromos for ATL (asking the Lord). On that particular day, we were able to speak the Gospel to a man standing outside his house with all of his children. He turned out to be a chicken bus driver and said that the word we gave had encouraged him. Also, we were able to minister to two women, along with their children, who had been either left or discarded by their husbands. The ladies were able to pour out the message of value in creation to the women and that their worth is not dependent on their husband’s actions; but Jesus Christ. Lastly, we were able to talk with a family that actually knew a bit of English and asked about their relationship with Jesus. The father shared his struggle of striving for goodness and we were able to pour in the work of Jesus being sufficient for Him.
Friday – The team is back together on Fridays and we head again to San Luis to each English and follow his leading. For the most of the day, we were able to pray for the town of San Luis and walk through the community.
Saturday and Sunday – The team summited a volcano, Acatenango.
(I’ll bring more detail on the trip in a later blog…)
Overall, this is how the team has operated here in Guatemala and what I have found is that the people here, along with their hardships, differ not much from their American counterparts. We live in country and state of privilege that acknowledges individualism and organic dedication as apart of our lives or better yet, the American Dream. Therefore, we pursue lives that are defined by “what we do” and “what we have accomplished.” Guatemala owns more of a collectivist culture that is centered around family and therecord hands out shame to those who fail to represent or coincide with their family. Even though there may be a difference of how we live and define the objectives of our lives, I have seen pain scattered in almost every family we’ve talked to here. We walk in, the Spirit shows up, and families surround each other to share their problems. But this is in no way American and would may even be considered intrusive by most. However, I have learned from the Guatemalan people that despite a difference in language, looks, culture, environment, and really opportunity in life; they are not any different than what I left back home.
It was when the Holy Spirit entered the room and eased the tension and brought darkness to light that change began to flourish. Tears began to flow and I saw the Gospel tangibly working through our steps into a stranger’s home. I personally believe it can be the same for us who live back in the states. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, allowing the kindness of God lead to us to repentance, it can change the things we have regarded as hopeless. This upkeep and “reality check” has begun in my heart as I have felt the memories and feelings shoved back in my mind begin to surface. And yes, its painful, but is bringing a newness and redemption that will lead me into a life that which is regarded as “changed.” Quite frankly, I want nothing more for your life and ESPECIALLY mine to be changed through the radical love we have all come to hear about and see.
—
P.S. I’ll be writing on the “Throwback Thoughts” soon so shoot all your adventures and stories to me at [email protected]
Much love – Will
