Guatemala is cold. Who knew?! I’m laying here in my sleeping bag wearing layers on layers. As some of the northerners are wearing flip flops and short sleeves right now, I’ve hardly ever been so aware of how Texan I am. Welp, lesson learned: next time I’ll pack wool socks.
Our squad set off for Guatemala on Sunday morning from Atlanta. Started making rounds to the airport at 3:30 AM. Welcome to the World Race! After a brief layover in Miami, we landed in Guatemala City that afternoon.
We had a four-vehicle caravan headed four hours northwest to Quiche, where our ministry contact is for the month. The drive through the mountains was stinking gorgeous. We just kept trekking up and up through green-lined, winding roads. I’m a big fan.
Sunday night we arrived at Agape in Action, the ministry where we’re setting up camp this month. It’s run by Sally & Erv – they’re a hospitable, Jesus-serving couple by way of Latin America and Michigan respectively. I think they’re awesome. They welcomed us and showed us where to set up our tents for the month. Yep – it got real real fast.
Our squad has 8 teams that are split up into several ministries around the city. They include orphanages, day cares, construction projects, churches, etc. My team is serving at the national hospital this month. The hospital is all of 60 yards away from my tent, so that’s mighty convenient! This is the only public hospital in the country. 120 beds serving millions of people. I’ll report more about our ministry as we get more involved — it’s gold.
Daily life looks like this: Wake up with the sun, work out, eat breakfast, lengthy quiet time, head off to ministry around 11, come back to camp around 5, dinner, squad worship and gathering, hit the sleeping bag.
There’s an air of relaxation and joy around here. A lot of rest and healing is happening all around me — I’m no exception. The amount of love in this place is palpable. On top of that, we have so much fun and laughter together it should be illegal in at least fourteen states.
Can’t wait to expand on what The Lord has for us here, but for now I just wanted to give the basics: we’re in Guatemala, in ministry, and having an absolute blast. To the many that have reached out from home to encourage me, I want to thank you! I love hearing from y’all & it really speaks volumes. I feel loved.
Cheers to speaking Spanish, tents, and the wool socks I didn’t pack,
Darcie
