Each day I spend in Guatemala it becomes more clear to me how much I love this place and the people here. It was a very exciting past two weeks here, our team has been given the unique opportunity to be able to do lots of traveling and see lots of the country. God continues to show me so much and just how to keep saying yes to his will each day. So often we have our own agendas and plans that get in the way of what God is trying to do. I am learning how to surrender my plans and put my trust fully in him and what he wants my life to look like. This is not necessarily the easy choice in life but it is the one that will have the most fulfilment.
Two weeks ago we got too spend a couple days at a local hospital in Antigua. Going into this our team was not sure what this was all gonna like, but we going into with the intentions of physically healing people. The first few hours of day were spent in the Cerebral Palsy unit, I personally have never spent a lot of time with people with this sickness. It was really tough to see past the physical illness, during lunch that day God really changed something in my heart. God showed me how he sees these people and God doesn’t notice their physical disabilities, all he sees is there spirt which is perfect! With this perspective its still hard to see past the physical disability but it was easier to love them if we are seeing them with the eyes of Christ. Walking out of the hospital that day I was reminded how blessed I am for God giving me a health body. Its not something we need to feel guilty for because God placed us right where he wants us to be. These days at the hospital were really great for our team experiencing the power of God.
This past week we spent living and working at a orphanage in Guatemala City. This was such a cool privilege to help them with getting settled into the new building they have. We were able to help them get a inventory set up for their food and medicine. They were so grateful for our team being their and even if we would have only moved one box the entire week, they would have still showed the same gratitude. They showed us so much generosity even with the little they had.
God has been so faithful with me while here in Guatemala and one of the really hard lessons he reminded me of last week was loving without being loved back. This is totally against all human tendencies but yet so necessary. God does not love us because we love him, he loves us despite of all our shortcomings. It is so tough for me to love others and know that I won’t be loved back but one that I am striving for. When we start too see people how God sees them we can start too see past the flesh and see them for who they are.
We traveled to Lake Atitlan on Saturday and get to spend the next two weeks living here at the Lake. This is the most beautiful place I have ever been and was absolutely speechless when I first saw it. We are going to be visiting a few orphanages around the Lake and ministering to local churches. I am so excited for these next weeks here at the Lake and everything God is going do.
I got too encounter lots of firsts these last few weeks and this included hiking a volcano which was super awesome. It started pouring once we got too the top, but this only added to the experience. We also got to see a spanish hypnotist which was of the more interesting moments of my life. Last night my team threw a little surprise Thanksgiving party for me which was so awesome. This included a ninja turtle piñata, cake and lots of fun. I am so incredibly thankful for my team and how much they mean to me.
Thanks everyone for their support and prayers! It means the world too me and I can feel them each day. God Bless!!!!
