I didn’t know what to expect when I came to Guatemala. I knew I was going to YWAM in Guatemala City, but YWAM does a lot of different things. One thing I’m learning on this race is that ministry doesn’t always look like what I might think it will. So, what has ministry looked like here in Guatemala?
1) Interacting with workers at YWAM: We are the first team to be there since the beginning of COVID. They haven’t had interaction with a team in months! We get to talk with them (some in Spanish and some in English), eat some meals with them, do devotionals with them, and more.
Photo credit: Hanna Smith
2) Cleaning around YWAM: We were divided into smaller teams (maintenence, hospitality, communication, and kitchen). I was put on the hospitality team which does a lot of cleaning. We clean bathrooms, sweep and mop the floor, water plants, and other odd jobs. One of my teammates and I even ended up washing several vans/cars (not what I thought I was going to do in Guatemala).
Photo credit: Hanna Smith
3) Interacting with local people (kids in particular): One day a teammate and I ended up playing hacky-sack with a little girl who lives across the street. More teammates joined us as we played. I speak more Spanish than most of the other people on my team, so I talked with her a lot while playing. A friend joined her another day when we played. Her favorite sport is volleyball, so we tried bumping the hacky-sack around like a volleyball until we got an actual volleyball.
I also had the chance to delivery some gift bags to children around the city. With the last group of kids, we got to play tag for a little while. (I ran out of breath quickly at the high altitude).
Photo credit: Hanna Smith
There are so many different ways to minister to other people. This shows more of the saying I heard at training camp “Life is ministry, and ministry is life.” I hope I learn more about this lesson as I continue on this journey!
I have just under $4,000 to go to be fully funded. Will you join me in this amazing opportunity? Please pray that God will provide the rest of the funds. Thank you for all of your prayers and support! God bless!
