GUATEMALA 
The month is almost over. So crazy how fast it can go… each day is a blessing here.
When there are hardships, revelation and peace always follows.
If we are filled with joy by means of what the Lord has put in our life, we quickly find ourselves in thanksgiving and praising Him for that joy.
Battles of the heart are fought here. The identity that the Lord has given us is constantly in question by our flesh.
Battles are won here, our Savior IS the lover of this world and before my eyes I get to see people receive His great love.
My days are filled with trials, laughter, family, homesick feelings, peace, good food, the beginning of knowledge, smiles that melt my heart, lots of tortillas, walking, the faces of poverty… and the everlasting, intense feeling of compassion.
I have been wanting to blog for quite some time… I love letting ya’ll know what is happening here, it is a big desire of mine. However, lately I find myself sitting down with my computer and my Bible asking myself what I should do… And I end up every time picking up my Bible. Luckily, right now I happen to find myself in a coffee shop with only my computer! We might not always have extra time, but I love the little distraction there is here when making my decision to be with the Lord.
Three days ago I fell in love. He is four years old, has cerebral palsy, lives at the hospital, and his name is Mickey; or in my words, Mickey mouse. His form of cerebral palsy consists of him having minimal control of his muscles. When he tries to talk his mouth will open and close but no sound will come out, as with walking… I would hold him up by his armpits and he would put one foot in front of the other which would take all his strength but, it filled him with so much joy! He would get so excited that he’d fall down to his knees. I was able to put him on a mattress and wrestle, feed… and just love on him. I would raspberry his belly and he’d giggle and giggle. I wanted to stay with him forever, or take him with me. But… I would probably get in trouble.
One of the ministries this month was Casa Maria in the heart of Antigua… aka “Grandpa house”.
I really enjoyed it there. It was an old folks home… but their reality was to wake up, eat, sit, eat, sit, sleep, and be forgotten by the rest of the world. One of the Ladies I met there was Christina. She would cry when she saw me, I would play balloon, sit, hold her hand… and just be there. She told me through a friend about her family… how her parents died young and the rest of her family left her… and here, they beat them.
Our other ministry for the month was at a small hospital for malnourished babies called Casa Jackson. It was a little bit more of a stretch for me, I am not too good with babies… but it softened my heart. We changed their diapers; held and fed them… took care of them.
This whole month I have been seeking the Lord so much that when the devil attacks, it is to mix everything up to where I can’t completely see things clearly, as they are or the Lord is showing me. I love my God. It has been a month full of clinging to my Father. I have been submerged, covered by the Word, and I feel it, see it, and am in awe of it. I went out to the beach, and just walked, watched the sunset and pondered on the Lord, His steadfast love, and what it means to truly walk with Him like many people had done in Genesis. To wake up, and He is there. To eat, and He is there. To interact with people, and He is there. To put the Lord in the forefront of my heart because He is there…interacting in my heart through His spirit, as much as I am with anyone else in person.
I am still fundraising for my next deadline which is Jannuary 1st! I need $3,500 to make it, and I have no doubt that the Lord will bring it! Thank you thank you thank you for all your prayers, I know they are coming my way. It is such a blessing to know that I have such a big support group back at home. I miss everyone!
