One year ago today, I loaded my bags into the trunk of my dad’s car and headed for the airport in the wee hours of the morning. Silence filled the car for the first half of the trip, as endless thoughts passed through my mind.
Who are these people I’m about to live with? Why am I even going to Guatemala? What am I going to be doing? How long will I be there? Did I make the wrong decision?
My dad broke the silence by encouraging me that I was doing the right thing. His tender words warmed my heart.
When we arrived at the terminal, he unloaded the car and then helped me carry my bag inside. Hoping I had everything I needed, I checked my one bag and guitar and headed towards security. My dad walked me to the gate and then gave me a hug. This hug seemed to last forever considering neither of us knew the next time we would see each other. I kept telling myself, and others, I would only be gone for a couple months, but I knew deep down in my heart it would be a little longer…
And longer it was…
Today I look back on all that the Lord had done in the past year. He has answered a few of the questions that flew through my mind the early morning on the way to the airport. But he has left some unanswered, leaving me to walk in more faith.
Who are these people I’m about to live with?
They were strangers who quickly became family.
Why am I even going to Guatemala?
Within hours, the Lord changed my paradigm- his plans always are better than ours. I thought I was coming to bring restoration to Guatemala. But actually I was coming so the Lord could bring restoration in me. The Lord, first, had to line my heart up with His so I could then share His heart beat with others.
What am I going to be doing?
I think I’m still trying to figure this one out J The vision the Father has given us is for Guatemala to become a sending nation instead of just a receiving nation. Our hope is to find Guatemalans that are ripe and ready for more. Then, train and disciple them so they can then train and disciple others. Intermingled with this vision is hosting short-term missions teams. Sometimes they will become corporate evangelists for our base while other times they come to our home to experience the Father… All this to say, every day we ask the Lord His plan and walk it out to the best of our ability. Some days we are covering the streets of Antigua in prayer, other days we meet people in the market, while still others we spend the day running errands, and even others we stay at the house to rest and recalibrate… A year later, we are still figuring things out, but we are starting to see some of the fruit from the seeds planted early on.
How long will I be there?
And the verdict is still out on this one… Almost weekly I ask this question and 52 weeks later, I’m still here.
Did I make the wrong decision?
No. I’ll be the first to admit, this has not been an easy year, but there are things I have learned here that will go with me for the rest of my life.
Who knows if I’ll be here another month or another year? What I do know is the Lord is working day after day to change lives here. Continue to partner with me in prayer as this journey continues.
