As the start of my last week of ministry comes up tomorrow and the next five days are filled with goodbyes, I’m remembering many fun moments and lessons I learned these past three months. It has been nothing but a season of growth in such a different way than I had expected. I’ve grown with the Lord in such an intimate way, and He has become someone I crave to talk to throughout the day (not just during my designated “holy” times). I’ve learned that growing close to God and what He has for me is a process and all He wants from me is to seek, be patient, and trust.
Here are some of the biggest lessons I learned from the Lord in this season:
-
God rewards the faithful and gives the desires of your heart when we earnestly seek him
-
Patience is such an amazing gift once you step into it
-
God’s love is steadfast and faithful (& He recently told me that I am steadfast)
-
How to know when to speak and when to just listen (obviously this still comes with a constant surrender to selfish desires and a lot of grace on myself)
-
Giving up control and giving it to God is about as important as breathing, but it is also a constant surrender and I’m still learning and will continue to grow in
-
Sending up your prayers and worries to God and knowing that they are all heard every single time (this goes along with giving up control & trusting Him)
I also haven’t completely processed the fact that I’m leaving Guatemala and will be living in Africa all in less than two weeks, it’s crazy! I honestly thought the race would be long and hard, and though it is hard, it’s also gone by fast. Yet, it also feels like I’ve been here for years. The amount of close relationships my team has built in these three months seems almost impossible. My ministry has become a family and even with my team I feel like I’ve known for forever. How can I become so close to all these people in such a short amount of time? I still am struggling to process it. I don’t know really how I will deal with this week to be honest. How can I be saying goodbye already? Am I really only going to be able to go up the mountain a few more times before the next thing? It’s not real to me yet.
That being said, to help me process, here are some of my favorite memories and routines from the past three months:
-
Larissa (my ministry hosts daughter) falling asleep in my arms constantly
-
Going out to Panda Express with John, Ilsi, & Marly (our ministry hosts) one day just to continue to grow and get to know them more. It felt like such a family day
-
BAKING WITH ILSI!! This woman can bake and she has loved letting me help her in the kitchen.
-
Soccer everyday with the kids
-
A little boy named Oliver that is the sweetest kid ever. His smile is the cutest and his heart is the biggest.
-
Going up the mountain everyday
-
John’s & Daniel’s jokes
-
Marly teaching us Spanish and quickly becoming a close friend
-
Inviting women to ministry every Tuesday
Yes, I am going to miss Guatemala, but God’s not finished yet and Ethiopia has so much to offer as well.
Prayer requests:
-
The squad is still getting sick and so I just ask that you pray for health and comfort
-
Continued growth and seeking council
-
My family and loved ones back home to be healthy and lean on the Lord for strength, peace, and comfort
-
My fundraising
-
Pray that Guatemala still has a softened heart for the Lord and that the people here continue to find God
-
Comfort in this season of goodbyes and transitions
Side Note: Along with the end of this season, a new one is starting for me. In a different country and also with a different role. I wasn’t sure if I was going to write about this, but I did give myself a goal at the beginning of the Race to keep my followers as updated with every aspect of my life as I could. You are my biggest supporters and so I want to keep you in the loop about my entire journey as much as I am able. That being said, I was asked to step into a leadership role over my team for the next six months of my trip and after praying, I accepted it. This doesn’t change what my ministry looks like or the way my team works, it’s just another opportunity to grow more in what it looks like to be a leader for me in my life. It doesn’t make me higher than anyone else or over anyone, it just means I have more responsibilities (if you’re really curious about what those responsibilities are, feel free to reach out :)) It means I was given an opportunity to grow and stretch as a leader and to learn what that really means. I’m excited to be able to grow and learn how to really seek God’s council before anything else and see how that changes my day to day life when I go back home. Love you all!!
