I Fell In Love

I told myself I wasn’t going to let myself fall in love. I told myself I wasn’t going to make relationships with anyone I met- even my own teammates. Because what’s the point? I have three months here in Guatemala (and 9 months total) and then I’m gone. I might not see some of these people ever again. Why would I put myself in a position to be feel sorrow or hurt? 

 

Going into the race that was my mindset- and might I add what a sad mindset that is to have. 

 

but…

 

Oh. My. Lord. Three months later and here I am completely wrecked. I fell in love. I fell in love with my ministry hosts. I fell in love with Marly and Daniel. I fell in love with Panimaquin. I fell in love with the kids. I fell so so so in love with Alana, Natalie, Alicia and Maegan. I fell in love so hard it’s ridiculous. And I 100% wasn’t planning to. Loving everyone here and Guatemala as a whole definitely hasn’t made leaving easy. But it made it beautiful. Because falling in love makes you laugh more and smile harder. It makes you hold onto every moment. It makes life so much sweeter and makes darkness seem less daunting. The fact that I’m leaving with such a deep love for the country of Guatemala and its people has left me with an indescribable feeling of constant joy.   

 

Falling in love with Guatemala and my family here taught me that yes, leaving is sad. But how beautiful is it that God gave me people that are so hard to say goodbye to? God did not have to give me these people. But he did. He wanted to redeem my view of love. He filled the holes in my heart and introduced me to true, pure and undeniable love. The love he has opened my heart to is raw and real, and thats something I never thought I would find, or even something I believed in.

 

Guatemala has been redemption for me. The Lord used Guatemala to put my heart back together. I now feel like I am able to love so deeply and so hard now. These past three months have been chain breaking for me and that’s something I can never fully describe. So to the people of Guatemala and to my teammates I’d like to say THANK YOU! Thank you for partnering alongside the Lord and teaching me how to love and what it’s like to be loved. Thank you for the bringing to light the redemption the Lord has done in my life. 

 

Thanks, God!

Thanks, Guatemala!

Thanks, John & Ilsi!

Thanks, Brittany!

Thanks, Lan!

Thanks, Mae!

Thanks, Nat!

Thanks, Lic!

Thanks, Marly!

Thanks, Daniel!

Thanks, Panimaquin!

Thanks, beautiful children of Panimaquin!