I’m sitting in our hostel a few hours before we’re scheduled to leave for Honduras, trying to process where I’ve been this last month and what I’ve learned. Its, as may be expected, difficult to sum up everything, so I'm going to illustrate some of the last month in photos.
Our first weekend of launch gave us the opportunity to hike an active volcano, called Pacaya, near Antigua. And what do you do when you're on an active volcano? Roast marshmellows, of course!
We were able to spend a lot of time at the Hope Haven International factory. We gave devotionals, taught English, helped the workers, and built some really good friendship with the workers. Paulina was one of our friends who we were able to get to know.
Gustavo is one of the workers at the factory, but he also plays for Guatemala's national wheelchair basketball team and is an incredible artist. He was one of the team favorites. 🙂
We spent a few afternoons each week working with local kids and spent time singing songs, teaching bible stories, and playing around. The second week we came to this particular group, we were met by all the kids waiting on the street corner for us to arrive. I guess that goes to show that re-enactments of Noah's Ark are always a big hit, especially when the crazy gringos are acting out the animals (complete with sounds).
Antigua is a city that is seeing God move. This was so clear to me in the people we met, the conversations we had, and the opportunities that kept flooding in for us to do ministry. There wasn't a single day when we didn't see God show up in unexpected places! We had an opportunity to do some work at a school for kids with special needs and all got out clothes splattered with paint from working on projects there.
We generally had weekends free to spend time exploring Guatemala and meeting up with the other teams. We had the chance to see Lake Atitlan, the largest lake in Guatemala, and go zip lining. Yes, those are volcanoes on the opposite shore!
We spent our last full week in Guatemala working near a small town outside of Antigua, called Xenacoj. In the mornings we would work on a dirt road, repairing and attempting to fill in the many potholes. In the afternoons, we were placed at an orphanage where we all learned the fine art of using a machete to clear a field of grass. Which goes to show that just because you're working in an orphanage, doesn't mean you'll be playing with the kids! After a long week of hard manual labor, we visited some nearby Mayan ruins and brokes the rules by climbing to the top to take a quick photo.
Our ministry host took us to the beach for a few days at the end of our time in Antigua. We spent some time in hammocks or on the beach, yet even there the Lord kept presenting us with opportunities to do ministry!
So there you have it. We've lived in community, eaten our weight in french toast, learned how to play wheelchair basketball, improved our Spanish (with some funny mistakes along the way), sought Jesus, preached Jesus, and are learned to love and be more like Jesus. Can this only be one month into the World Race?!
If you want to check out some of my other photos, you can take a look at them here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150351300202085.347660.512522084&type=1&l=9f2027e825
Some praise and prayer requests:
First, I AM FULLY FUNDED! Praise Jesus for providing through YOU and all those who have supported my fundraising efforts. I am so thankful, humbled, and amazed that the seemingly impossible number has been achieved and I am able to focus entirely on ministry and on what the Lord is doing in the coming months. If you would still like to continue to give towards this movement, would you please consider giving towards one of my teammates? Chrissy, Rachel, Mickey, and Heather are all still in need of funds so that they, too, can pursue this opportunity with the World Race. The links to their blogs can be found on the left-hand side of my blog's home page.
Please pray for the unity of my team and our squad. Living in community has been more challanging than any of us anticipated, and while the Lord is working and blessing us tremendously through it, we are still learning and growing. Prayers for genuine love, respect, and humble servant hearts towards one another is appreciated.
Also, please pray for healing for some other squad members. There are a few individuals on the journey who need prayer for broken bones, hindered eyesight, headaches, stomach issues, and peace and reassurance of being healed.
God is moving in BIG ways! I wish I had the words to describe what the Lord is teaching me and how I am learning and growing. Its been such an incredible journey so far, and Honduras is just around the corner!
