Wow…has 2 and a
half months already passed since I left Texas??? Although there have been
plenty of tough days along the way, it seems like time has flown by. After
finishing out a tough month in Mexico with adjusting to group dynamics and
being thrown into a ministry we weren’t exactly sure how to handle, Guatemala
was a REFRESHING change. Our five weeks were spent in Puerto Barrios, a port
town along the Caribbean coast. We
were paired with a local church called Iglesia Calvario. The people of this
church and the community completely embraced us. From day one, they did
everything possible to make us feel like family…and by the end of five weeks,
we definitely did.
We
lived at the local Christian radio station and shared this house with another
missionary team that was there as well from YWAM DP (Youth With A Mission,
Destination Paradise). This team of 14 had just been on two cadamarans for
three months of discipleship training. They were now on their two month
outreach portion of their training. We were able to get to know them VERY well
considering we shared a living space made for a family of four with about 20
people plus the people that worked at the radio station. This group of 14 from
four different countries completely blessed our time in Guatemala. Our two
teams meshed extremely well and we were able to do ministry together.
(YWAM and World Race Girl Pic)
Our
ministries in Puerto Barrios ranged from painting churches and schools to
leading entire services in remote villages. I was able to use my Spanish again this month and was very
blessed to have been able to communicate with all of the people we met. I know
at times I take this ability for granted and almost feel like it is a burden.
Translating for three of my teammates during every conversation they had or at
every meal three times a day, can get a little tiring…especially when I haven’t
spoken Spanish since my junior year of college THREE years ago. To say my
Spanish was rusty is an UNDERSTATEMENT, but after praying and practicing for a
full month in Mexico, Guatemala was MUCH easier.
Being
able to communicate also gave me the ability to form deep bonds with many of
the people. An unexpected bond
formed between our team and one of the waitresses at a local restaurant that we
frequented. It had the three things we needed: Cheap Food, Internet, and AIR
CONDITIONING! Wendy, the waitress, would talk with us every day and we were
able to share with her about why we were in Guatemala and what we were doing.
We invited her to come to church with us and for three weeks she came with her
mother and her neighbor. They were not Christians but I really felt that
through us just being there, we were able to be a testimony of God’s love for
her and her family. I once again realized that it is not my job to bring EVERY
ONE we meet to know Christ…..sometimes I will just need to “show up” in their
life. I will keep in contact with her, but I felt good leaving her, knowing
that she now had an amazing church family that would pour into her at Iglesia
Calvario.
(Team Joy with a few of our favorite people from the church)
Iglesia
Calvario will always be a home away from home. I completely fell in love with
their congregation and their passion for Christ. They showed me love when they
barely knew my name, they showed me compassion when I was homesick or hurting,
but most importantly they showed me their love for our Father. I will miss
Guatemala, but am excited for our next step on this journey we call The World
Race….Vietnam.
