Umm…WOW!
(I will try and post pictures soon but won't be able to at the moment!)
So Month One on The World Race has finally started.
I am officially in Guatemala!!
There's been so much that has happened so far and we haven't even started ministry yet.
We arrived in Guatemala on the 10th of September and had a long bus/van ride from the airport to our ministry site. It's monsoon season in Guatemala and it's been raining like crazy. There have been a lot of mudslides and sinkholes due to all of the rain so pray for the people of Guatemala. There's been a lot of destruction to the roads which makes it hard for everyone to get around. We had to stop for about 3 hours due to some destruction to the roads but were able to pass safely after everything was cleaned up.
It was actually such a blessing being stranded on the road in a little Guatemalan city for three hours. We were parked right next to a little church where they were having a worship service in Spanish so in true World Race style we ended up worshipping with the locals. I couldn't understand a word that was being said but the woman leading worship was full of passion and fire for The Lord. I didn't need to understand her words in order to feel that passion. It was amazing & such a great first night here.
We were originally supposed to be camping in our tents all month but due to the RIDICULOUS amounts of rain we are now in "dorm style" rooms which is such a blessing. We also have running water & hot showers and I am NOT taking it for granted! I know this won't last long!!
We officially start our ministry on Monday. I'm not exactly sure what my team and I will be doing yet but some of the options are working at the local hospital, caring for children in an orphanage, or prison ministry. I will update you in a couple of weeks on how everything is going.
I wish I could truly describe to you all that I'm experiencing but honestly, there are no words. The city that we're staying in is exciting, there's a local market that is always busy and all of the people just stare, smile and say "AMERICANOS" whenever we pass by. For the most part everyone is very friendly and there's no serious danger. It's difficult for me to communicate with the locals but I always try to say "Hola" and smile! I usually get an "Hola" and smile back, but not always…
This is definitley unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Being in a third world country is really surreal and it feels like a dream sometimes. I mean, the things that I'm seeing, the smells, the sounds, the car rides. It's all things that I've only seen on TV and now I'm experiencing these things in real life. You guys….it's amazing & awful, encouraging & discouraging all at the same time. I'd be lieing if I said it weren't. But that's why I'm here & that's why my passion for the nations is so strong. It's really easy to not think about these things when the only time we hear or see about them is on TV. The passion inside of me has only grown so much stronger since being here and that's exciting. I can't wait to tell you of all of the great things that He's done.
But until then…keep praying! Love y'all!
