I used to read about Racers getting robbed in every country. God allows us to get robbed, and by His grace I’ve been robbed. But it’s not of any material possessions; it’s not money, not backpacks, nothing that the eye can physically see. It’s the heart.
And my heart has been stolen by Guatemala.
It’s like a dream come true and so surreal to be in another country. When we arrived in Guatemala City, we stayed at one of our contacts facility. I spent the evening just processing what we’re actually doing; leaving everything behind to do missionary work globally for the cause of Christ. It sounds pleasant when I type in down. But to be in it; to be in the thick, dense mission field is just beyond words. After sleeping on the floor of the second story, my team headed out the next day. We played some futbol with one of the local children name Manuel as we waited for our buses to arrive and after being delayed for a couple of hours, we started our voyage to Santa Cruz Del Quiche! As I was standing on a cramped bus for 4hrs, bonding with my team by talking about most embarrassing kiss and sharing stories, I became overwhelmed with thankfulness. It's God's grace that I'm even on the race. And the awareness of His grace bcame more evident whe we finally made it!
My team found out that we were going to be doing prison ministry! Yes, PRISON MINISTRY! And the Centro Preventivo Para Hombres Santa Cruz De Quiche prison isn't fun in the sun. Our contact Richardo, who’s been ministering to them mostly out of his own pocket for over 3 years, told us that 80% of the people being held here are innocent. How so? What happens in most instances is that the men here were pulled over and asked to pay an outrageous fine for just about nothing. 150 quetzals ( 1 quetzal is equivalent to $00.12 in US currency), which is impossible for the average poverty-stricken individuals in the rural highlands of Guatemala, was demanded on the spot, and now he finds himself in prison waiting for a trial, missing his twin daughters Emily and Naomi and his faithful wife. Unfortunately the government doesn’t care for him or the 150-175 inmates that cramp themselves into three small cell blocks that both function as a concrete place to sleep on top of one another as well and as the place they use the restroom.
This is where God has called me to love, serve, and minister at; in this small pocket within the mountains of the indigenous Mayan people of Guatemala; this small, cramp, broken, concrete hole of hopelessness, abandonment, and loneliness. Please pray for me and my team as we engage in relationships with these men, facilitate reconstruction on broken, run-downed areas, and tomorrow I preach the good news of the Gospel in front of all the inmates and bring restoration to a broken people. These are my friends, mi amigos. Please pray for them. I’ll keep you updates as the ministry unfolds throughout my stay here and how the preaching goes tomorrow.
Please consider contributing to my mission trip. I’m 45% funded. I need your financial support to keep me in the field to bring love, peace, comfort, and hope to these amazing people of this nation and nations across the globe. Thank you for you continued prayers, sharing my story and our mission trip, and your financial contributions. Grace and peace.
On a rooftop in Guatemala City.
Me and my team leader Travis had to borrow our contacts motorcycle since there was no room in the truck as we headed for the first day at the prison. Riding through people, semi trucks, stray dogs, and on the worst roads I've ever seen. And just to let you know, we now wear helmets (stay safe.)
Outside the prison entrance.
Painting the prison guard's resting quarters.
Praising God on the rooftops of Guatemala.
Thank you all for your prayer and support.
