Today I am recovering from yet another bout of sickness.
My sixth distinct illness since I’ve embarked on this trip.
For whatever reason, I have not been healthy for more than three days at a time since I left the
United States.
I am getting over some kind of stomach flu and a cold currently but am feeling much better today.
Please pray for the team as all five us are sick currently with something or other and we really are ready to be healthy again.
Yesterday, Salt team came to
San Juan and will be staying with us for the next week.
It’s been awesome seeing old friends (and having some guys to chill with – Andrew and Spano ROCK!) and hearing their stories from Puerto San Jose and
Antigua.
It’s been fun introducing them to our friends and home for the time being.
We had a cool time of worship on the beach last night.
Guatemala
is beautiful but I’m starting to bring closure to my time here.
This has been a great experience, the church around the Lake (and other places I’ve been in
Guatemala) has proven to be incredibly healthy.
There are two seminaries across the lake in Panajachel and virtually every pastor we have come into contact with has had some kind of formal ministry training.
The impact such training has had is unbelievable and truly accounts for the great work the churches in this area are doing.
The pastors have an inspiring amount of vision for their work and the people they serve.
They have an unbelievable faith and work ethic and the people here are being blessed abundantly for it.
It’s been an educational time for me learning about what they believe are the underlying issues and how they envision addressing said issues.
On a more personal note, my team is doing better than we ever have been (we have grown so much during our time in
Guatemala).
It has been a much harder transition than we expected losing Jennifer but we have learned how to support each other through the processing of her return to the
US.
We are learning an incredible amount about lifestyle ministry.
Structure for our time here has been lacking but we have been amazed at the people God has put in our way for us to befriend and serve.
Everyone from the kids we teach at the school to the teachers to fellow patrons at our hotel to strangers we meet on our boat or truck rides to fellow tourists in search of answers.
Our kitchen has become a place frequented by guests and we have loved just living life with people.
We have become friends with the women who sell vegetables at the market, a local artists, our landlord, the owners of the tienda across the street, etc.
Sometimes we feel as though we aren’t doing much, but just being with the people here has shown us what true ministry is supposed to look like.
We have all agreed that we don’t interact with people in our normal lives this way (when was the last time I invited my cashier over for dinner just to hang out or stopped by the gas station to check on how my friend who works there is doing?).
This is a highly relational culture and people and it has been a pleasure to live life here.
That being said, I am truly looking forward to seeing Joy in
Antigua and reuniting with friends in
Nicaragua.
Thanks for all of you who have been praying for Jennifer and our team, God has blessed us incredibly during this time.
PS I LOVE getting comments on my blogs, please please please feel free to drop a comment in just to say hi or to note on something I’ve said!
