Today, September 21st, is my 13th day in Guatemala. Crazy right?! Part of me feels like I just got here, part of me feels like I’ve been here forever. Cultural orientations, navigating new places, chicken buses, lesson planning, soccer games, movie nights, playing with kiddos – that’s what my past 13 days has looked like. Busy but slow, sweet but different, uncomfortable but already so life changing.
My weeks are very “play it by ear” but will mostly be teaching English, VBS, house visits, sports ministry, and handing out soup. We go back and forth from two villages, Chirijuyu and Cajagualten. The people there are still warming up to us but I am so excited for what’s to come.
As excited as I am for all of this I have had to stop and remind myself to give myself grace many times. I have to remember that I am not fluent in Spanish. I have to remember that these people aren’t going to have a flourishing relationship with Jesus overnight. I have to remember that I am just the hands and feet, God is doing it all. I have to remember that as much as we do in these 3 months, we are planting seeds. I may never ever see the result of anything we do in our time here and that can be frustrating, but so worth it if furthering the kingdom is the final result.
I think I wanted myself to perfectly adjust to this life of living with 45 other people, public transportation, ministry everyday, and not having family with me. But I totally didn’t, shocker I know. Lol. Nobody is going to adjust perfectly to that kind of change. I am taking things one step at a time. The beautiful part is that God is too. Thanks God.
He doesn’t expect me to be perfect, he doesn’t expect me to not miss my family, he doesn’t expect me to tally up the number of people that get saved in these 9 months. All He wants is for me to live more like Him everyday and tell people about Him on the way. How cool is that? The creator of the universe, the beginning and the end, the only perfect person that has walked this earth just wants me to take the hand He has reached out to all of us and tell people about how He loves us. I will never get over that.
I am learning how to pray continually, always speak life, and hear His voice more clearly. I share a room and bathroom with 6 girls and yes it is as crazy and fun as that sounds. There is always something to do and always someone to talk to. Taking in everything as much as I can and giving myself grace as I learn to adjust to all this one step at a time.
Thank you Lord for your grace that I don’t deserve but I get every time because you’re just that good.
Guatemala is beautiful and life is everything I’ve wanted and more. Thank you for following my journey, means the world to me.
((PS. I have been posting most of my pics on Facebook and Instagram: @baileyhoganking :))))
Blog ya later,
Bay
