My experience in Guatemala has been interesting to say the least. I’ve met many people at the base, others who are in CGA with me, and other missionaries here in Guatemala. When you live in a house with other missionaries 24/7 you learn what makes them tick and makes them tock with their unique personalities. You even learn what makes them pissed off at you. That’s what’s happens when you’re in a family.
Some people you click with easier than others that’s a fact of life. People have different learning styles. I found that out very quickly. Everyone is uniquely gifted in the body of Christ.
In our group of people in our house we have people who live in the moment and do everything! We have people who are great at organizing, planning, and doing the behind the scenes things. Others are great at establishing relationships and then there’s others who are more task-oriented.
Yesterday, I had a conversation with my track leader and we were talking about how I grew in being intentional with the whole body of people.
For me I’ve thought of myself as a friendly person, easy to talk to and approachable. This semester with how God create me I started to realize how task-oriented I am in everything. If you were to have a snapshot of my brain this is what it would look like:
7:30am- Wake Up/Time with God
8:30am- Breakfast
9am- Base Worship
10:15am- Prayer Time with CGA
11am- Plan for Market/Grocery Store Run (My Brain in Task Mode)
11:30am- Go out and buy food for the team
12:00pm- Lunch
Y’all get the picture. Very Linear/Time-Line Based
If I ask someone on my CGA Team to hangout with them I have to tell my brain something like this: Relationship/Fun Time don’t go into task mode now invest in them!
I love people but for me there needs to be a purpose behind investing in people. When I meet someone if they come off as being needy for people all the time (I used to be like this a ton/God has been working on me with my identity in Him instead of people-pleasing), not extending trust first, or come off as being over-confident then I don’t want anything to do with them. To be honest that’s not being like Jesus that’s being more concerned about having everyone like you and be like you. Jesus hung out with the poor, woman at the well, sick, and the needy. Jesus hung out with everyone. I need more of Jesus every day to be more like him.
Now about my bubble being expanded I didn’t realize I had one on the World Race. Many times especially with one of my teams I would say “Equal opportunity.” Meaning I hang out with everyone. On the Race God didn’t want me to have fifty best friends. I couldn’t do it on my own. My track leader told me about another male squad leader on my squad for the Race about how he made time for all fifty people to hang out with them in a week at month 1 debrief in Nicaragua. I invested in my team relationships on the Race but at debriefs I hung out with 5 people most of the time and invested heavily in those people. This was in 2013.
It’s been encouraging for me to hear that I’ve grown in being intentional with investing in people who I’m with the most. Not picking and choosing but doing this with everyone. Are all the people my best friends in the house? No but I do spend time with them and show I care about those people. The so-called “Blake Bubble” which I didn’t have any intention creating the bubble has popped and expanded! Praise God!
Thank you for your support much appreciated! Around $1,100 has came in the last 3.5 weeks towards Guatemala! Praise the Lord!
My time in CGA Guatemala is ending in 3.5 weeks. Right now I’m $1,852 from being fully funded. There’s a support me bar at the top of this blog and if you like to support my time in Guatemala please do by clicking at the top of the page to give. All gifts are tax-deductable. Thank you and God Bless!
