hey from Guatemala!
we finally made it out of the country this week & it’s already been pretty dang sweet! the past few months in Gainesville God has really been building quite the foundation in me & in our squad. we are really ready to dive into our ministry here. as i’ve met the incredible base staff & felt their alignment with God’s vision for the communities here, my heart has been bubbling with excitement. it’s been tender to say the least & God has continued to ask me to press in & step out wholeheartedly.
something holy spirit has really been putting on my heart this week is my growth in confidence, & obedience. looking back on first semester, i distinctly remember sitting in one of our first worship nights & being struck really hard with His presence. i physically felt so heavy & it was all i could do to just breathe. my lungs felt like they were being pressed in, but actually i just think holy spirit was stretching them a bit. sucking air did not feel cool at the time though, it felt difficult & really uncomfy. breathing & resting in His presence has been something God has continually brought up for me, but recently i’ve begun to feel a shift.
this week i’ve been reminded that everything breath i breathe is for His glory. instead of merely breathing to survive, i’m invited to use my lungs to worship & bring His kingdom closer. & even though my voice feels imperfect & new at times, He still sees the beauty in it. & this enough.
“everything i am will praise and bless the Lord! O Lord, my God, your greatness takes my breath away, overwhelming me by your majesty, beauty, and splendor!” (psalms 104v1)
it’s honestly a bit tricky to try and describe, but i really have just had a deep desire to sing & praise recently. which is a bit crazy for me. if you had told me this even a year ago i probably would have laughed. no one ever heard me sing (except my car sunny and my shower), & now you can often catch me humming and singing out loud wherever i am. & tonight I’m helping lead worship! talk about transformation 🙂
I’ve kinda also been thinking about this quote from the book Love Does. in it Bob Goff says, “when joy is a habit, love is a reflex”, & i just also think that we could say “when gratitude is a habit, worship is a reflex.” a bit cheesy maybe, but that’s just where i’ve found my heart to be this week. deeply in awe & positioned in a posture of worship.
much love, erika
ministry and fundraising update: my team will be working primarily in two villages, Los Aposentos and Iztapa. everyday will look a little different, but we’ll be making a lot of house visits, teaching English, working at a local worship room, and starting a soccer ministry. I’m also really close to being fully funded! i currently only have $1,042 left to raise which is wild to wrap my mind around. please prayerfully consider supporting me through prayer or finances! i will not be able to start ministry until i reach my total goal, so every bit helps. love you a lot a lot!
