(If the first part is to long and boring please skip and read the second section)
So many faces, so many stories. From every concrete block raised in construction, to the endless wheel barrels of dirt that make up the foundation. The Lord is proving His faithfulness to me, in my joy and in my weeping.
Team Living Water is shocked that we have been experiencing life in Guatemala for almost a month now. It truly feels like a lifetime. As a team, and individually, the journey has started to get down to the grits. Deeper talks with one another, challenging feedback, and a community that has begun to except San Pedro El Alto as our home. This process has finally brought us to a place of complete surrender and love for Jesus, in our brokenness.
I really want to be vulnerable with my support team, friends and family back home. This last week has pushed me. It pushed me to believe that returning home would be pretty amazing. No matter the amount of time, or wisdom in words, and even the effort we put into preparing for pain and struggle, it never seems to satisfy when the heat actually transcends. I declare in Jesus name, I am here! No other place would I rather be then in the arms and beautiful will of God. But boy, it’s so tough!
Many of you know that training camp for the World Race was the most momentous and healing experience I have had with God so far. This spiritual mountain top lasted for so long, it was unreal. I accepted in my heart that there would be a day when I would have to walk back down, but I revel in the peace and courage I had in that month and a half while Christ’s overflowing manifestation lasted. Although I know I am closer to God and will never return to the same valley again, the lack of exhilaration has made getting up at the crack of dawn for ministry extremely challenging.
The powerful lesson God has taught me in my time alone with him, and through my ministry, is that He is not a taskmaster. I tried to apply the same amount of effort and motivation God blessed me with during my spiritual high, and wanted to exhort it equally with a body and spirit that is honestly tired. Waking up each morning driving myself to please God was beginning to feel like; go pray for one more sick person, work this much harder in ministry, prove to your team that you can lead flawlessly. But secretly, I began to resent God for this new attitude of pressure, even though I was the one who blanketed Him with it. God is teaching me to choose Him once again as my first love. Seeing that he has brought me here for growth and intimacy, not out of punishment and disappointment. 28″Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mathew 11:28-30
I trust in God’s power and love for he has brought me on the world race. No matter where my fleeting emotions and feelings may take me, He is forever constant.
I want to share a fairly deep and overwhelming incident that occurred just toady to my teammates Sam, Andy, and myself before We taught English class in San Lucas. We witnessed God’s unfailing faithfulness in all it’s glory.
After a miscommunication with Ninet, the women we started building a house for last week, we wondered back to the city to ask The Lord what He might have in store for the day. We got some food and went to sit at a nearby park. We ended up sharing good conversation with a farmer and a few teenagers, as well as prayer over a man burdened with crutches. It was a day of bold opportunities, and surrendered humbleness in following Gods calling. But I never would have expected the day God planned.
I went up to some teenage boys and asked where the best place to get a haircut was. After promptly answering my question, I thanked them and grabbed Andy and Sam. My haircut was a fun experience. My barbers name was David, and he was a Christian as well. I loved getting to chat and tell him that his haircut was excellent. Directly proceeding, we went to the grocery store to grab a snack before teaching English at 3, it was apprzoxametily 2:15. Once we were satisfied we decided to walk up the street about 5 blocks and head over to class.
Finally arriving we noticed that the gate to the room was locked, which was never the case before. We ended up sitting down in front to wait for Ninet who also teaches at the class (she is the one we we’re suppose to do construction for this morning). After sitting no more than 5 minutes, a drunk man walked up to us. Babbling quickly in Spanish I finally understood him say, “Yo my name is Mike.” We asked if he knew Jesus, and he did, so we wanted to pray for him. He said that his wife passed away and it was very painful in his heart. We assumed this is why he was drunk. He ended up walking away, and I got up to go buy more minutes for my phone at the store on the corner. This is where it gets real.
Sam and Andy joined me, but on the corner was another under the influence man. I asked him what his name was and he reached to shake my hand. As I gave him my hand I noticed his fingernails were long and sharp. He grasped my hand tightly and would not let go. I must admit a little fear started to fill my heart, but God was with me. I starred directly into his bloodshot blue eyes ( he is the first Guatemalan I have seen with blue eyes). I knew something was wrong, our spirits clashed and I could tell that this man was not well. Sam and I prayed as he babbled, praying for God to fill his heart. After no more than 5 minutes he finally released my hand and we left to go into the store to buy minutes. Quickly the shopkeeper said he could not help me, and we left to go back to wait for English class.
No more than a minute had passed, and we found the blue eyed man lifeless on the sidewalk with a pool of blood around his head. A women we had never seen before came up and apparently works with Ninet, but we think she is an angel. A local boy, Andy, and I walked quickly down the street to get help from the police. After returning and calling the ambulance, I found Marta (the name of the angel) praying loudly and sternly. She spoke quickly in Spanish, but we clearly knew what she was doing. She declared in the name of Jesus, “leave this man evil spirit!” The man was now responsive and the wound on his head could be seen, continuing to bleed. I kneeled and began praying. A second man who seemed odd and slightly aggressive came at Marta, she told him to sit down in the name of Jesus, and he did. As I prayed, I could see and hear the battle of these demons. The men would bounce back and forth. Speaking Spanish and then grumbling in another voice to one another.
You could tell when it changed because the man with the wound would cry out God help me God help me, and then would turn his face down scratching the pool of blood with his nails. Through all this Marta prayed, we prayed. And as the paramedics came, we left to teach English, fairly shocked.
Marta hugged me and gave me comfort, I don’t know if we will ever see her again. But I praise God for the protection and power he sent us today. God is so alive, I don’t know if the evil left the men, but I do know that God shows up and saves, and I am ready to follow wherever he takes me.
Thanks for all your continuous prayers and love, I miss you all so much. Pictures of construction will be up on Facebook soon!
