We’ve had some pretty big changes happening here at the base, and it’s safe to say no one could have anticipated some of the shifts that have taken place..
Looking back at my very first night in Guatemala, I remember being told to pack my bags for the lake! And there we would pioneer a second base apart from Antigua. Since that moment, our minds spun into dreaming and planning what our time at the Lake would look like.
Our first 3 months were spent building relationships with people around the Lake, meeting with pastors in the local community, establishing trust between us and the indigenous people, and the list goes on. It was a slow, brick by brick, process. Building a foundation takes time and is extremely important seeing that a foundation is what ultimately determines the overall safety and stability of the entire structure. We were faithful to what we were given, and followed the Lord in the best way we knew how.
During that time, the Lord called people to other places outside of the bases in Guatemala, some to Cambodia, others home to begin and new chapter, while others were called home to support raise for a long-term future here in Guatemala. With all of the changes left in the wake of transition, it became obvious that our time at the Lake would have to be put on pause indefinitely.
So I’ve found myself back in Antigua where we have power in numbers and can faithfully carry out the mandate He has placed on the house here. I’ve totally and completely hopped on board with what God is doing here through the orphanages around Antigua.
But I will say that I had plenty of questions floating through my mind since being back in Antigua…
“was it all for nothing?” “did we even hear His voice?” “did we waste our time and energy pouring into something that was never going to take off?” ….what the heck Lord?
I couldn’t help but feel anger well up inside of me with each question leading to another while no light was being shed on any answers.
I was apart of the group who went back to the Lake to pack up our house, meanwhile, the question of “why?” lingered and hovered over my head.
On our last day, we paid a visit to our landlord, Beatrice, to square off some last minute logistics. We thanked her for her kindness, for being a joy to work with and handed her a piece of cheesecake as a token of our gratitude. A little taken back by the kind gesture, her mouth opened a words started to flow
She thanked us with such sincere gratitude. I’m thinking ‘what in the world have we done for you?’ You see, our interaction with her had been casual and mainly consisted of quick hi’s and bye’s- just moments in passing. With that being said, she had my full attention as I waited for her to go on.. she did..
She began describing the light and life she saw in our eyes, the love she felt, and the literal positive shift she sensed in the atmosphere. She was almost a little confused when describing this, as if she didn’t have words for it. She said the only word she could think of was “mystical” yet she continued because that didn’t quite do it; it was different, something more. She explained that what we embodied was more solid, more full of truth than something simply mystical.
Sooooo, at this point, I’m pretty sure my jaw was on the floor, and I didn’t think it could get any lower until she continued…
She said that having met us, she now knows why someone would give their everything, their life to follow Jesus. She now understands why people would live for Him.
Yep, my jaw sunk even more. It didn’t stop there…
Beatrice is from France and one of her prized possessions is her collection of French chocolates. She eats one chocolate at the end of everyday to unwind and reward herself for a hard day’s work. She described the giddy feeling she had with each bite and of the satisfaction it brought her. For her, it was the ultimate. She continued by explaining about her experience the previous night- she went through her normal routine and finally the time came for her to enjoy her sweet delicacy. She excitedly popped the treat into her mouth and waiting for that familiar feeling of pure happiness. It did not come.
Something from within her said “there is something more” and instead of satisfaction she felt a longing for the more.
And she knew we had whatever “the more” was. And dots started connecting for her- she described her previous 24 hours as something different and new; she didn’t quite know what was going on but that she had bumped into something big.
The smile that came across my face left me sore for the next 2 days. Papa God was wooing her- He was revealing Himself to her.
She had been exposed to the Christ in us, and it literally left her wanting something deeper.
Mind you, this story began with me angrily asking the unanswered question of “why?” He spoke to me in that moment and said “THIS is why”
Friends, you absolutely cannot underestimate the power of the presence in side of you. He lives in me so when I walk into a room, Jesus walks in, too. And when Jesus walks into a room everything changes.
You don’t do ministry, you are ministry.
Maybe missions can be over complicated at times.
Maybe missions simply looks like living- living a life that carries His presence. That’s what we do here
So nothing is wasted, nothing is done in vain, and there is way more purpose behind each and every single breath we take than we’ll ever know.
