Hard to believe Guatemala is here and gone….and again I’m behind with my blogs.
This month has been a blessing from the get go. From the moment I drove down the mountain and saw beautiful lake Atitlan I knew I was going to love it. This place is so much more than breath taking views though. Its crazy how quick a place can begin to feel like home. This month we are staying with Pastor Antonio and his wife Cata. They have absolutely opened up their beautiful home to us and truly made us feel welcomed. We have beds and hot showers, and they prepare dinner for us every night, which is delicious without fail.
We are working with team Hebron this month as well. It has been awesome to get to know them on a deeper level and just learn from them. I love that God knows exactly who we are supposed to be with in exactly the right season.
We came to San Pedro without a clear picture of what our ministry was going to look like for the month. We really felt God wanted us to go to the people, to build relationships and just do life amongst them. Let me just say God is wrecking my definition of ministry. Like I seriously have it all wrong. Going on the world race you have this preconceived idea of what ministry will look like but I’ll be straight up with you, it will get re- defined. I feel like we are expecting to see people get healed everyday, divine appointments, or people accepting Jesus! WE WANT BIG! And it seems that if it isn’t big than it isn’t ministry. If its not big are we really making an impact? But then again maybe the question lies in who is it about? Is it about you and how ministry makes you feel, a sense of accomplishment or doing good, or is about loving others and bringing glory to the Father.
You see in Guatemala I have realized that ministry is about the little things, the little glimmers of hope, and love. Does it mean we leave it there and say this is all there is? No there is always more, does God want to heal the blind and the lame, and raise the dead? ABSOLTUELY! Can he? Without a doubt. But what if ministry is painting Andrea’s finger nails. What if it giving Lorenzo a hug. What if ministry is playing soccer with Emerson, or smiling at Anna? Maybe ministry is pouring into my teammates. Taking the time to hear their struggles and victories. What if ministry is hanging out with your ministry hosts? I challenged my teammate during our time in Guatemala not to miss out on 11 months of what we may define as small ministry moments because she is too busy looking for the big things. Has ministry looked how I thought it would…NO, but I’m ok with it, because when I walk outside Pastor Antonio’s house and hear the kids call out to me, Kiki, Kiki, I know we are making an impact. They know us, the long for our love. Have there been days when we wonder aimlessly, yes, but it doesn’t mean God isn’t speaking or we missed the boat. Maybe God is more interested in our obedience than whether we end up going up to someone and praying for them. I have seen God move in mighty ways this month, but I’ve also seen small glimpses of bringing His kingdom to earth. Which is more meaningful, which had more impact…….
Guatemala, month two has changed my perspective on ministry and I am so blessed to have learned this month two and not month eight. God is moving, speaking, but are we when He tells us to do the same. Let God wreck your definition of ministry!
