How does one even begin to tell about a month of their lives, especially when God has called them into a life changing adventure. How do I even begin to explain the changes in myself? I will try and give this month justice. I will try and explain what I saw, heard, felt, tasted, and smelled (Although… you may not want all the smells). I will also try and explain some of the changes…
I saw babies who had never felt love, who had runny noses and just wanted to be held, and not just babies but kids all the way up to 11 and 12. They wanted to be embraced, thrown in the air, played with, kissed, they wanted to be loved. I saw God's love manifested in the hands of my brothers and sisters serving men, women, and children all over the city of Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala. I heard laughter and tears. I heard cries out to God. I heard God's voice in the voices of my squadmates as they loved on babies, and orphans. I felt the weight of a sleeping 8 year old orphan girl on my lap as she clung to me for rest and love. I felt God's love in the embraces of squealing 4 and 5 year olds as I played with them at the daycare. I tasted tamales, and rice and beans, and all the amazing cuisine of Guatemala. I tasted God's heart for the nations. I smelled dirty diapers, and unwashed faces. I smelled clean clothes on the rack outside. I smelled rain (lots of rain). I smelled the sweet fragrance of my Savior as so many children ran to give me hugs and mothers and sisters cooked dinner.
Sweetest Memory: Oh there are so many. Having Maita and Glenda play in my lap as we watched the clown at the daycare, or having Brenda fall asleep in my lap at the orphanage. Oh there were the VBS kids on the mountain. So many sweet memories. It's hard to choose one.
Life-Changing Memory: My last church service that I went to at one of the neighborhood churches (two of our teams had been serving there). We took communion and then the pastor and his family washed the congregations feet. The humilty and servant-leadership from Pastor David and his family was so humbling and mind blowing. It will forever be my favorite communion service.
Lesson's Learned:
– I need to continue to be patient with my peers, even when things don't happen as quickly as I'd like them too.
– Being raw and honest even when it's hard, can lead to so much grace and forgiveness.
– I can find alone time even living with 56 people in a tent city.
– God is bigger than my fears and hurts.
– Being corrected is not the end of the world. It does not make me a failure.
So many lessons and so many things I'm still processing. I am blessed with God's grace and forever Thankful for it!
