27hrs of travel including a 30 minute walk with our packs (Within 5 minutes I was thinking about what I could get rid of), bus took us to the train to the shuttle to the airport.
42 of us camped out on the floor in the airport overnight! Woke up at 5am to head to our gate to hang until our 9:50a flight to Guatemala City. 3 hrs after takeoff we landed!! About an hour later my team along with 1 other team (lionsong) jumped into a little tiny van with all our packs tied to the roof. Totally world race style!
As we drove through Guatemala City to the bus stop (about a 30 min drive) I was in awe of the culture. The buildings, the people, the sounds, the signs. So amazing! Then from the van we got on the bus for a 6 ½ hr bus drive to our Ministry site. The views from the bus were breath taking! Window open with the wind blowing in as the smells changed every few breaths. From sweet incense smells to fumes from exhaust, from delicious food to nauseating I have no idea what kind of smells haha. The small city views to random hills on the mountain side and breathtaking views of mountains and valleys. Every bit of it was awesome and I fully absorbed every moment until of course I fell deep asleep. Woken by the intense need to pee, I looked towards the back of the bus to see what looked like a bathroom. I double checked with Katie H sitting next to me making sure that’s what that little door in the back was. Uncomfortable to investigate I decided to hold it just a little longer. That only lasted about another 30 minutes until finally I was brave enough to use it. As I headed to the back I asked the gentleman by the door “el bano?” and about 5 people shook their head no while the gentleman proved his point by trying to open the door that wouldn’t budge. No bathroom??!! You got to be kidding me! So I sat down and when one of the guys working the bus I asked where there is a bathroom. Chase (team Lionsong) translated that the guy said that if we stop to eat I could use the bathroom then. I almost had a total breakdown in fear that I wouldn’t be able to hold it!! Thanks to Katie H she encouraged me and gave me options (one being a water bottle) I took the option I added and that was to just not have to pee anymore. Laughing hysterically we prayed God would take away the need to pee….So glad God has a sense of humor!!! 2 hrs later I made to the bathroom! Sorry to those of you who would rather not hear about my bathroom habits but it was an entertaining moment I had to share…I can promise you this will not be the last time either hahaha.
On to our incredible ministry!!! I couldn’t be more stoked about this month! Our ministry contact this month is Paul and his wife Hilda. We are in Puerto Barrios, Izebel, Guatemala. They are amazing and have already showered us with love! We all have a bed (3 sets of bunks per room), a bathroom, and AMAZING food!! They welcomed us last night with spaghetti, great comfort food after a long travel day! Today we had beans and rice with sausage SO GOOD!
I have already fallen in love with our contacts this month and the people that help with their ministry. I’m so excited about the ministry this month….it will range from going to the orphanage, ministering to prostitutes, visiting the elderly, feeding the kids in the dump, sharing our testimony at church and plays, skits, and songs at churches and schools. We got to practice some skits and songs in the front yard today….So fun!!! Learning songs in Spanish is awesome. I can’t wait to get out there and love on the Guatemalans. I’m also learning Spanish and one of the guys who helps with ministry has been really helpful, patient, and encouraging. Hopefully I won’t drive him crazy. He said I wasn’t that he was more than happy to help and that I wasn’t allowed to speak to him in English.
After we practiced our songs/skits we sat on the front porch and worshiped. It was so amazing! It’s going to be such a great month and I’m so excited to be spending it with team lionsong. God is going to use us in huge ways to bring light into the dark city. I’m so incredibly to see Gods work!
The views here are beautiful, we are surrounded by trees and the sound of all the birds adds to the beauty. The sun is hot but the breeze has been cool. It’s humid but tolerable. I love it here and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Thank you all so much for supporting me so this could be my life right now! I feel so blessed to be really be Jesus’ hands and feet and all while in such an awesome culture. Saturdays are our free days so I’ll try to post blogs at least on free days. I love you and thank you again for your prayers and financial support!
**Support Update: $7116 Raised, $8384 still need to be fully funded. Help keep me here by clicking "support me" to the left of this blog. Thank you all so very much!**
