A week and a half ago, my squad of 56 people and 3 squad leaders landed in Guatemala and traveled to the town of Quiche located within the Guatemalan mountains to begin an incredible journey of serving, ministry sites, spiritual growth, challenges, adventures, vulnerability, laughter and so much more!
Ministry
My entire squad is together this month, as we are working with various ministries associated with Agape in Action, Inc. The primary purpose of Agape in Action is medical missions with the purpose to serve the Indigenous Mayans of the Quiche province who would otherwise go without needed care. Our teams have then been split up to serve at several different ministry locations. Some teams are working at the hospital, others at an orphanage and even others are working with various church leaders in the area doing various projects and construction.
My team has been fortunate to get the opportunity to serve at a daycare and after school government run program. Kids of various ages attend (from just a couple months old up to twelve years old) whose parents are working or unable to care for them throughout the day. The young kids are there all day, while the older kids (7-12 year olds) don’t show up until 1pm. For those of you who know me, I’m sure you can only imagine how much fun I’m having serving at this daycare as I get to interact and play with such precious children each day!
We help with serving lunch and afternoon snack, clean the cafeteria area each day, spend time with the kids in their age specific classrooms with various activities that are planned, play with them outside in the courtyard area and any other various projects that they may have for us. One of major additional projects for our time at this ministry site is to build a playground for the children, which has been generously funded through a scholarship.
Last Friday, our teams planned and prepared specific activities for the children with skits, songs and games to help entertain them for the afternoon. I spend much of the time in the baby room, but hearing the excitement from the children through the open windows and doors expressed how much fun they had!
Lodging & Food
My entire squad is staying in our individual tents this month in an open field next to the mission lodging facilities that is associated with Agape in Action, Inc in a safe compound area, which is actually directly across from the local hospital. We are blessed to warm showers!
This month breakfast and dinners are together as a whole squad. Our individual teams are in a rotation cycle where we take turns preparing and cooking for the entire squad. Lunches are then determined within our own individual teams, since we are all at different ministry locations.
Evenings
Last week, our evenings were filled with more sessions, consisting of worship time, letting the Holy Spirit lead and times of deep sharing where real and raw vulnerability has come out amongst our entire squad, as we’ve shared about those ‘secrets’ of our past that we have struggled with, are currently struggling with, or are areas in our life which are hindrances that limit God to truly work in our lives.
Chains holding us back are being broken, walls are being torn down, healing is happening and finding freedom in Christ has been occurring. It's a process, and not always easy, but completely worth it!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. –Galatians 5:1
————————————————————————————
On another note: please be praying for my squad, many who have been ill, and unable to go to ministry each day. Other's have sinus colds and congestion. Thanks!
