Guatemala has been such a blessing to us so far. Our team has been here for just over two months now. Ministry looks a lot different for us than it has in the past, but we are facing the change head on and finding it to be such a joy to be here.
We are currently working with a group called “oneway” in the town of San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo is a beautiful town. Our team loves getting to know the people their. They are kind, compassionate, and always inviting. Most days, we help the oneway team run an after school program on a big soccer field. There are approximately 300 children that flood in to the camp. It is very fun, and also very hot and tiring. We play games, learn different subjects, laugh a lot, and love on the kids. We are so blessed to be able to work with oneway because they are so Christ focused, everything that they do flows out of a desire to bring the people of San Lorenzo closer to Jesus. We have so much hope for this town and The Lord is already working in powerful ways here. There is a shift beginning to happen in this town.
We’ve also had the opportunity to serve at a school in Chimaltanango called “Grace English School.” We spend several of our mornings their helping teachers learn english, and also their students. It is such a joy to be able to work with the teachers and students at grace. The atmosphere of the school is always positive and our team really enjoys our time there. We have gotten to know one of the assistants their named Charlie and love getting to talk with him. Also, the founder of the school and our ministry host Logan is the best, He treats us like his kids and we all love the time that we get to be around him.
Oh, and I also met my other grandma. her name is Maria and she lets us call her Abuela.
She is short, fierce, gentle, and kind. She lives by our bus stop on the way to one of our ministries.
We met her because one day, her husband came out to us and asked us if we were missionaries. As it turns out, the squad before us had befriended this couple as well. So when the husband (named Guate Lupe) saw us, he asked us if we would want to come pray for his wife. We followed him inside to where Maria was laying down on her bed. We spent time getting to know them and praying over them. They are full of such faith, they prayed over us to. A lot of healing happened that day. Now we get to visit with them almost everyday. Guate Lupe also makes really good bread that we get to buy and enjoy together. They are such generous and intentional people. I am so thankful that we get to be with them for the next month. We call it a “bus stay” now because it really feels like a little family reunion every time we wait for the bus.
This is what our ministry has looked like.
I have been blessed, challenged, and grown a lot here. I look forward to the next several weeks.
Sincerly with all my heart and guts,
Julia
